The entire life cycle of disposable water bottles uses fossil fuels, contributes to global warming, and causes pollution. More than 17 million barrels of oil are required to produce enough disposable plastic water bottles to meet America's annual demand for bottled water.
In the environment, plastic bottles can break down into miniscule particles, called microplastics, which make their way into our food water, posing a potential risk to human health. Plastic can also leach toxic chemicals, affecting animals that ingest it, contaminating the animal and human food chains.
Researchers have found several hundred different chemical substances in tap water stored in reusable plastic bottles. Several of these substances are potentially harmful to human health. There is a need for better regulation and manufacturing standards for manufacturers, according to the chemists behind the study.
In short, no, bottled water doesn't “go bad.” In fact, the FDA doesn't even require expiration dates on water bottles.
When you're using plastic containers, never store water in them for longer than 3 to 6 months, and keep a close eye for when it starts to become discoloured, cloudy or for any signs of contamination that will make it harmful for consumption.
A good rule of thumb is to store your bottled water out of the sun to preserve its look and flavor. Warmth will cause only slight alterations to the water's composition.
For many years, people have been circulating hoax emails claiming that drinking water from plastic bottles can cause cancer, especially if they have been left in cars, or frozen and reused. There is no good scientific evidence to support these claims.
Plastic water bottles end up as trash
That means only 9 percent of plastic actually gets recycled. The rest finds their way to landfills – or worse, our environment. In the environment, plastic bottles take 450 years to break down into tiny microplastic (that still pollutes and leaches toxins).
Compounds such as polyethylene terephthalate have given plastic bottles several advantages, including toughness, energy savings and ease of production. Plastic bottles are economical to make, safe to use and recyclable.
In 2018, a study examined 259 bottled waters and 93% of them contained micro plastic synthetic polymer particles, according to Frontiers in Chemistry. Nestlé Pure Life garnered the most unfavorable results — with one sample that contained almost 10,000 microplastic particles per liter.
100% of baby sea turtles have plastic in their stomachs. There is now 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic in our ocean & 46,000 pieces in every square mile of ocean, weighing up to 269,000 tonnes. Every day around 8 million pieces of plastic makes their way into our oceans.
Contaminated bottled water can harm your health, including causing gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems may be more likely to get sick from some contaminants.
Disadvantages: The biggest disadvantage of plastic is that it is non-biodegradable i.e.; it does not decompose and therefore not environment friendly. Prolonged use of plastic containers to store and consume food also affects human health in the long run.
It contaminates water bodies and releases toxic substances into the air, water and soil. Long-term usage of plastic can cause birth defects in children, compromise our immunity and even cause cancer.
Banning bottled water would reduce waste and protect the environment. About 70% of plastic water bottles bought in the United States are not recycled, [1] which means the majority end up in landfills or in the oceans, harming the ecosystem and poisoning animals.
However, in areas across the globe with poor waste management or a lack of properly sealed landfills, as a bottle breaks down into microplastic particles over time, some particles may seep into the soil and eventually make their way into our waterways, ultimately entering and polluting the ocean.
Banning plastic water bottles can lead to increased consumption of sugary drinks. Studies have shown that removing bottled water as an option for consumers can have the unintended effect of increasing consumption of sugary drinks and other unhealthy beverages.
The ability to provide safe water in emergency situations, convenience on the go, and a range of tastes and sources to meet consumer preferences are further benefits. However, the major drawbacks of bottled water are its environmental impact and high cost.
The toxic chemical additives and pollutants found in plastics threaten human health on a global scale. Scientifically-proven health effects include causing cancer or changing hormone activity (known as endocrine disruption), which can lead to reproductive, growth, and cognitive impairment.
They discovered bacteria contamination in 83 percent of the used plastic bottles. Most prevalent were Staphylococcus aureus (found in 27 percent of the bottles) and E. coli (found in 17 percent).
The water left overnight or for a long period of time in an open glass or container is home to numerous bacterias and is not safe for drinking. You never know how much dust, debris, and other small microscopic particles might have passed into that glass. Water left in a bottle for a long time is not safe to drink.
Up until the Best Before Date written on the bottle - It is better to store bottled water at room temperature or cooler, out of direct sunlight and away from any solvents and chemicals.
Using plastic water bottles more than once can be harmful if they are not cleaned and dried properly or if they're left in warm areas where harmful germs can grow. These germs can make people sick, causing vomiting or diarrhea.