James Sears
2024-09-26 03:06:32 UTC
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Permalinkare safer ways to hydrate.
One in 20 Americans gets most of their hydration from bottled
water, and only 10% drink exclusively tap water but experts
are warning that its time to rethink our drinking habits. Its
for the good of our individual and planetary health, say the
authors of a new commentary published in the journal BMJ Global
Health on Tuesday. While bottled water is lifesaving in
countries without access to clean well or municipal water, the
authors say that the rest of us are unnecessarily exposing
ourselves to toxins, using excess plastic and choosing a
relatively unregulated source of water over highly tested tap
water.
So whats really in your bottled water? Heres what to know.
Why experts are concerned about the health effects of bottled
water
High rates of contamination have been found in bottled water,
according to the commentary written by Weill Cornell Medicine-
Qatar researchers. Just how common that is varies widely:
Anywhere from 10% to 78% of samples of bottled water have been
found to contain contaminants that may be harmful to human
health. They include:
Microplastics: Popular brands of bottled water contain up to 100
times more nanoplastics even tinier flecks of the material
than microplastics than previously thought, a monumental study
found earlier this year. We now know that these plastic bits
have made their way into many parts of our bodies, where they
may trigger inflammation, metabolic changes, reproductive issues
and Parkinsons disease-related brain changes. And its not just
drinking bottled water that exposes us to microplastics. Nine
out of 10 plastic bottles end up in the environment where they
disintegrate into microplastics and nanoplastics that cause
global pollution and adverse health effects on living organisms
including humans, Rolf Halden, director of Arizona State
Universitys Biodesign Center for Environmental Health
Engineering, tells Yahoo Life.
Phthalates: These chemicals are used to make plastics more
flexible and durable. They can be found in everything from
cosmetic products to food, flooring and bottled water.
Phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors because they
interfere with the endocrine system, which regulates hormones.
The chemicals have been linked to reproductive health issues,
low IQ in children and metabolic changes.
PFAS: Best known as forever chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances are synthetics used to treat products including
carpets and nonstick pans to make them heat-resistant. It can
take hundreds or thousands of years for PFAS to break down in
the environment and up to a decade for them to leave the human
body. And while theyre already in our bodies, high levels of
PFAS may contribute to higher cholesterol levels, liver enzyme
changes, preeclampsia during pregnancy, low birth weights and
greater testicular and kidney cancer risks. They may also
contribute to obesity and metabolic issues.
BPA: Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical used to make food
packaging stronger and less vulnerable to corrosion or breaking
down. But like phthalates, it disrupts hormones and has been
linked to higher risks of infertility, PCOS, diabetes,
cardiovascular disease and breast and prostate cancer. However,
the Food and Drug Administration considers BPA levels in food
packaging safe, and stated after a four-year review that safety
standards dont need to be changed.
Much of the concern over chemicals found in water bottles and
food packaging is based on animal studies because its difficult
to study in humans. We do not know all the ramifications of
chronic exposure to some of these chemicals, but certainly they
are concerning, Dr. Jamie Alan, associate professor of
pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, tells
Yahoo Life.
She adds that we may begin to see the health effects in humans
in the coming decade. The degree of that harm or toxicity is
yet to be determined, Andrea De Vizcaya Ruiz, a professor of
environmental and occupational health at the University of
California, Irvine, tells Yahoo Life. Whether its toxic or not
toxic, we should not have [these chemicals in our bodies]
because when we have something foreign to our bodies, that will
constitute a health issue for sure.
Bottled water may not be safer than tap. But many people think
it is.
In much of the U.S. and other wealthy nations tap water is
tightly regulated, frequently tested and often exceeds [bottled
water] in safety, according to the authors of the new
commentary. Yet they blame marketing for the fact that many
people prefer bottled water and buy into its health halo. Alan
agrees, saying: Just look at the names of some of these brands
of water. Its a classic marketing strategy in my opinion.
Halden says the notion that bottled water is better for you is
probably due to the misguided belief that virgin water exists
and can be found in plastic bottles, he says. There is no such
thing as virgin water all water on this planet constantly
cycles between becoming contaminated and being purified.
On the national level, the U.S. has among the cleanest, safest
water supplies in the world, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. But that isnt perfectly
consistent. De Vizcaya Ruiz notes that its not only reasonable
but also safer to drink bottled water in parts of the country
that have long been home to major industrial plants and may not
have clean water. Case in point: The crisis in Flint, Mich.,
over high levels of lead in its water supply. (You can find out
how safe your tap water is here.)
The commentary authors also pointed out that some bottled water
brands enhance their products with flavors or carbonation,
making them more appealing as a matter of taste. If thats a
reason why some people prefer bottled to tap water, then the
articles assertion that many bottlers add flavoring seems to
place these bottles in the same category as juice and soda in
some cases, James Salzman, a professor of environmental law at
the University of California, Los Angeles and author of the book
Drinking Water: A History, tells Yahoo Life. Salzman also
wonders why the same plastic-related scrutiny isnt applied to
these other bottled beverages.
Safer ways to drink water
If youre concerned about the possible health effects of bottled
water, theres good news: There are steps you can take to reduce
your risks, even if you cant or dont want to give up bottled
water altogether, says De Vizcaya Ruiz, whose research found
microplastics from water bottles in human lungs and
bloodstreams. Ranked from best to worst, her top choices for
drinking water are:
Tap water in a reusable glass or stainless steel bottle. As long
as you live somewhere with safe drinking water, using these
nonplastic containers will sidestep the risk of chemicals
leaching from your bottle into your water (though, of course,
that doesnt mean there is zero in your drinking water).
However, if youre using a metal bottle, look for stainless
steel (De Vizcaya Ruiz says Thermos brand is trustworthy) and
avoid any that have been found to contain lead, including
Stanley.
Thicker plastic single-use water bottles. Have you ever noticed
that little triangle with a number in the middle on your plastic
water bottle? Its not just for recycling; it also indicates the
quality of the plastic. The lower the number, the better the
plastic, and the fewer health effects its been linked to (and,
bonus: the more easily it can be recycled).
Clear plastic disposable bottles and jugs. In some cases, its
unavoidable to use these poorer-quality plastics. De Vizcaya
Ruiz says that using them occasionally isnt likely to cause you
much harm. Just make sure you only use them once because they
degrade over time and get contaminated by germs with reuse, she
says. And never put hot liquid in them or let them sit somewhere
warm, like a hot car; heat damages the plastic, leading to more
chemical leaching. And especially when it comes to emergency
water bottles or jugs, remember that they have an expiration
date because the plastic becomes less safe, so make sure to
replace them every few months.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/bottled-water-contains-harmful-
contaminants-experts-warn-here-are-safer-ways-to-hydrate-
001323961.html