“if you're leaving a bottle of water in a car for a day, there's really no risk of any chemicals leaching into the water,” Williams said.
Ideally, don't leave a water bottle in a hot car for more than a couple of hours. Within this time period, some chemicals may leach from the plastic into your water, but not enough to have any health effects. Don't leave a single-use bottle of water in the car for more than 12 hours.
Can I Leave Water Bottles In My Cold Car? Yes, you can leave a water bottle in the car in cold weather, and it will be safe to drink (cold doesn't cause plastic to leach chemicals as much as heat does).
Drinking from a single water bottle left in the hot sun won't hurt you, but experts say consumers should avoid persistant exposure to plastic containers left in extreme heat.
Observe the expiration date for store-bought water. If you are filling containers with water to store, replace the water every 6 months.
But because plastic can begin leaching into bottled water over time, they generally have an expiration date of 2 years from the date of manufacture.
An unopened bottle presents minimal risk, but you should avoid drinking from a water bottle that's been opened and then left in a hot space. Hot vehicles provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow, so it's best to toss any opened bottles left in your car.
But Cheryl Watson, a professor in the biochemistry and molecular biology department at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, advised people not to store bottled water in places that have a significant amount of heat, like a garage or a car parked outside.
The U.S. Food and Drug administration which regulates bottled water does not require a shelf life be listed but due to degradation of plastic over time, especially in heat we recommend two years for still water and one year for sparkling water.
Drinking water with this taste, although unpleasant, is not harmful in itself. If you've tried this but are still concerned, or you'd like more advice you should contact your water supplier.
All in all, water in plastic bottles should be safe to drink, and no less so than water in metal bottles or any other type of container. If they have contaminants in them, they are likely to be found at tiny concentrations.
Another method is to use a cooler or an ice box. This is especially effective if you're going on a long car ride or taking a trip to the beach. Fill your cooler with ice cubes or freezer packs, and then add your drinks. Be sure to pack the ice box tightly so that there is no room for the cold air to escape.
Keeping water in a bottle of cold drink or mineral water for several days can be harmful to your health. Actually, when these bottles are used by filling water for a long time, then elements like fluoride and arsenic start forming in them. These elements are very harmful for the body.
Periodically Change Your Car's Radiator Fluid
Most car manufacturers recommend that you change the radiator fluid in your vehicle every 24,000 to 36,000 miles, or every 24 to 36 months.
Typically when the vehicle is using a lot of water it's because you're using water instead of coolant. Coolant is designed to heat up, while water will evaporate much quicker when the temperature rises inside your motor. It is recommended to use a ratio of 50 percent coolant to 50 percent distilled water.
The water in your car's vehicle circulates around the engine, and helps to keep it cool. With no water in the system, your car runs the risk of rapidly overheating, which in turn can cause engine damage.
This is why you shouldn't drink bottled water exposed to heat. Scientists who specialize in plastics explain that the hotter a bottle of water gets, the more toxic chemicals inside of the plastics leak out into the water they hold (via Today).
Antimony can be leached from water bottles made of PET plastics. The rate of leaching is low at a storage temperature of 25°C. However, at temperatures of 50°C and above, antimony release can occur very rapidly.
How often should you be cleaning it? Both Stapf and Hutchings recommended washing your water bottle once a day. As far as sanitizing goes, experts recommend this at least once a week, but you can do it more often if you've been sick or you've taken your bottle outside.
Stainless Steel Water Bottles are Safe
The plastics in recyclable plastic water bottles are thought to be a health risk. Harmful chemicals are emitted from these bottles, and these chemicals might cause cancer. By switching to stainless steel, you can prevent harmful carcinogens from leaching into your drinking water.
Unopened water bottles left in hot cars can pose health risks due to potential chemical leaching and bacterial growth. Avoid leaving water bottles in hot cars and store them in cool, dark places away from direct sunlight. Consider using BPA-free, stainless steel, or glass bottles for added safety.
The most reliable way to check whether an item is BPA-free is to consult the plastic identification code number — usually stamped on the bottom of the container. There are seven categories, where numbers 1 to 6 are free of BPA. This means that only those printed with the number 7 will contain the chemical.
Energy Savings. Plastic bottles are lighter in weight than their glass counterparts, reducing energy and costs required to ship products. Because plastics are soft and have relatively low melting points, plastic bottles take less energy to manufacture than glass.
Does water mold in a water bottle? Yes. Mold is a totally natural (and usually harmless) microorganism that loves damp, moist spaces. When you think about it, that's exactly what your water bottle is - a damp, moist space with very little air flow.