Are Plastic Bottle Safe For Recycled Drinking?

It has been a health concern to the majority on the safety use of plastic bottled water lately. Since the current trend is for people to bring water on a trendy colorful plastic bottles that is convenient to heftily carry around. These bottles are light, durable and come in beautiful or sporty designs. They are perfect for active lifestyle. The irony however, is that health hazard may be caused by the chemicals that make these bottles attractive. Some agencies and research centers however are not united to claim the fact that plastic bottled water gives potential health hazard to the consumers. Here are some facts to base your own educated judgment how safe plastic bottled waters are.

The Chemicals

Lexan polycarbonate resin is plastic polymer used in a variety of products over the last four decades including compact discs and DVDs, bulletproof windows, mobile phones, computers, baby bottles, and water bottles. Lexan is a perfect choice for water and baby bottles as it is durable, doesn't hold flavors or odors nor delivers any taste from the bottle material itself to the fluids it holds. In 1998, it was discovered that polycarbonate resin can leach bisphenol-A (BPA), a potent hormone disruptor. BPA, a chemical found in epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastics, may impair the reproductive organs and have adverse effects on tumors, breast tissue development, and prostate development by reducing sperm count.

BPA can be leached into the water bottles contents through normal wear and tear, exposure to heat and cleaning agents. This include leaving your plastic water bottle in your car during errands, in your back pack during hikes and running it through your dishwasher and using harsh detergents. It was further found that detectable levels of BPA leached into liquids at room temperature. This means just having your plastic water bottle sitting on your desk can be potentially harmful.

It would be assuring to know on the other hand that most plastic containers are made up of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and that with single use, these bottles are perfectly safe. However, the plastics in re-used water bottles break down over time. Bottles that are repeatedly used after rinsing, washing and heating, contain a contaminant that appears regularly in these single-use plastic beverage containers, known as DEHA (di-2-ethyl-hexyl-adipate).

DEHA is a suspected human carcinogen that if consumed in large concentrations has been linked to excessive weight loss as well as reproductive and liver problems. This repeated use causes the plastic to break down and the carcinogens can leach into the water that you are drinking.

People who re-use a PET bottle once or twice to carry drinking water are in possibly no danger from chemicals leaching from the plastic into the water. However, it is known that bottles left out in the heat, say in your car, run the risk of having the plastics break down and bacteria to grow much faster. It is recommended that if a new water bottle is left out in a warm temperature or after being left in a hot car to dispose of the water and recycle the container.

To avoid bacteria build up, wash out your containers with warm water and biodegradable dish soap. Be sure to wipe the mouth of the container and the lids. And most importantly, let the container completely dry before refilling. Keeping any container continually filled with liquid can lead to bacteria growth that can lead to potential illness to occur.

It must be kept in mind that plastic bottles are made to be recycled and not for re-use. As an alternative use stainless steel water bottles which are light, durable and hold both hot and cold liquids well and are suited for active individuals to use.

Although some research institutions relate that the claim on the potential health hazard caused by re-using plastic bottle remains unfounded, it would be wise to keep in mind that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.