Many of us reuse plastic water bottles by refilling them to save money and reduce the amount of plastic waste.
However, these plastic bottles are designed to be used only once, so some are concerned about whether it’s really safe to reuse them after all.
About one million plastic bottles are bought every minute, creating huge amounts of waste, which mostly end up in landfills.
sciencecalert asked eight experts the question “Is it safe to reuse plastic water bottles?”. Their answers converged by 75% to “probably yes”…
What are plastic water bottles made of?
Plastic water bottles vary in their material, but most disposable bottles are made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic. PET is a clear, lightweight plastic used to package many foods and beverages.
It is approved as safe for contact with food and beverages in many parts of the world, including the USA and the European Union.
Could chemicals leaching from plastic cause cancer?
Many online articles claim that reusing water bottles can lead to cancer due to the release of certain chemicals from the plastic.
One chemical that many people are concerned about is BPA (biphenol A). BPA can disrupt the endocrine system, potentially causing issues related to reproduction and metabolism. BPA is not used to make PET bottles but can be found in other, more rigid plastics, such as polycarbonate. Nevertheless, one study found very low concentrations (5 ng/L) of BPA in PET bottled water. Two other studies did not find this chemical, so this finding is inconclusive.
A different chemical, antimony, is used as a catalyst to make PET. Antimony is not considered carcinogenic when ingested, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. A 2008 study tested antimony levels in commercially available bottled water. They found that some leakage had occurred gradually over time, but the amounts were well below what is considered dangerous. The concentration at which antimony becomes dangerous is about 6 ppb (parts per billion). The study found that antimony concentrations started at 0.195 ppb and rose to 0.226 ppb after three months at 22 degrees Celsius.
Antimony isn’t the only chemical that’s been studied in bottled water. A whole range of chemicals from plasticizers to metals has been investigated. These studies found that there are certain chemicals, such as antimony, that are leaching into bottled water. So far, there is no evidence that these pose a risk to human health.
What about microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic. They are found almost everywhere, including drinking water. In fact, one study found that 93% of newly opened plastic water bottles already contained some microplastics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reviewed the potential risks of microplastics, but based on current evidence they have concluded that they do not pose a significant threat to human health.
It is interesting that Dr. Umar Abdulmutalib from the University of Surrey says: “New plastic bottles may contain more microplastics than used ones.”
Dr. Marek Cuhra from the Institute of Marine Research in Norway also believes that “drinking water from a used and washed plastic bottle is safer than a brand new bottle”. His team found that water fleas grew and reproduced better in plastic pipes that had been washed in hot water than in new plastic containers.
In conclusion:
Of the eight experts, six answered that it is probably safe to reuse plastic water bottles.
Studies of chemical spills and microplastics have found that these occur at very low levels and are unlikely to cause serious health threats unless plastic bottles are repeatedly exposed to very high temperatures.
The most likely risk is contamination, so if you reuse a plastic water bottle, remember to wash it regularly.
Sources:
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