A study from the American Chemical Society has revealed that bottled water is filled with harmful plastic particles that have been linked to a range of health problems
Bottled water drinkers are being warned to switch to reusable bottles, as scientists have discovered harmful particles inside. While the environmental benefits of ditching plastic bottles are well-known, it turns out there are also health advantages.
Drinking plenty of water is always good for you, but where your water comes from and how you drink it can make a difference. Shockingly, scientists have found that an average one-litre bottle of water contains 240,000 plastic particles, compared to just five and a half in tap water.
These tiny particles, known as nanoplastics, have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, birth defects and fertility problems. Their small size allows them to easily penetrate blood cells and the brain, reports the Express.
Phthalates, the plastic used to make the bottles, have also been associated with health problems. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has stated that this plastic is “linked with development, reproductive, brain, immune and other problems.”
Reflecting on these findings, Beizhan Yan, an environmental chemist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and co-author of the study, said: “This was not surprising, since that is what many water bottles are made of.”
The expert also disclosed some surprising and perhaps unsettling insights about common plastics in our daily lives. He said: “PET is also used for bottled sodas, sports drinks, and products such as ketchup and mayonnaise. It probably gets into the water as bits slough off when the bottle is squeezed or gets exposed to heat.”
He added another alarming revelation about Polyamide, a type of nylon, being present in bottled water, suggesting: “Ironically, this probably comes from plastic filters used to supposedly purify water before it is bottled.” Despite prior concerns about the impact of bottled water on health, Beizhan Yan optimistically noted that the research paves the way for further explorations into the barely-tapped realm of nanoplastics.