7 reasons why drinking water from plastic bottles is harmful!
Ubiquitous plastic is not our ally when it comes to good health. We present 7 reasons why it's safer to ditch PET plastic bottles. We also suggest how and what to replace them with. 
Everyone knows that water is the healthiest fluid a person can drink. When we look at our bodies, we see skin, feel muscles, and bones, but we rarely realize that, chemically speaking, water constitutes as much as 60% of an adult woman's body and 70% of an adult man's body. Water regulates body temperature, transports nutrients, and removes toxins.
Water balance in the body
Water circulation and exchange in the body is constant, and to maintain a healthy balance, we should drink at least as much fluid as we lose. Water loss occurs through breathing (approximately 0.5 liters per day), excretion (1.4 liters per day), and sweating (0.5 liters). A minimum daily intake of 1.5 liters is generally recommended. However, WHO experts consider consuming up to 3 liters of water per day as normal. Requirements vary depending on the climate zone, season, ambient temperature, frequency and intensity of physical activity, weight, metabolism, frequency of coffee, tea, alcohol, and high-calorie meals, as well as the body's health. Furthermore, we lose more H2O during illness.
Where do we drink water from? Is drinking water from plastic harmful?
We most often drink water from glass or plastic bottles. While a glass bottle doesn't change the chemical composition of the substances it contains, a plastic bottle reacts with water, releasing harmful substances. For some time now, environmentalists have been warning about the enormous damage plastic causes to the environment. Today, thanks largely to research by Dr. Bla Bal of New York University, we know that drinking water from plastic bottles is also harmful to us.
Why is water drunk from plastic bottles harmful to both humans and the environment?
1. PET plastic bottles contain harmful compounds that can leach into water.
Simply using a plastic water bottle regularly, leaving it in the sun, in a hot car, in a heated yoga studio, or in a microwave oven, can degrade the outer layers of the plastic. At higher temperatures, plastics marked with recycling codes 3 or 7 can release a chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA), while BPA-free plastics can release Bisphenol S (BPS).
Both of these chemicals, which are also found on store receipts, metal cans, and elsewhere in our environment, can contaminate the liquid you drink from your bottle. The research was conducted by Cheryl Watson, a doctoral candidate and biochemist at the University of Texas at Galveston. Watson investigated the effects of BPA and BPS on the human body in extensive studies. The results suggest that ingesting even a small amount of BPA and BPS can cause changes in the functioning of your endocrine system. This is because these substances are structurally similar to the female hormone estrogen. Exposure to these compounds has been linked to chronic diseases, including diabetes, asthma, and cancer. Animal studies suggest that exposure of a fetus in the womb to BPA or BPS can irreversibly impair the development of the brain and immune system of the future organism. Furthermore, the effects are long-term and can be passed on to future generations.
2. Chemicals in plastic can make it harder to get pregnant.
Scientists have found that both men and women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) who have high levels of BPA in their blood, urine, or work environment are less likely to conceive. The study was published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology in a 2013 review summarizing 91 studies. This shows that BPA, by mimicking estrogen, affects pregnancy development, fertilization, and embryo implantation in the uterus. The study was led by Sheele Sathyanarayana of the Seattle Childhood Research Institute, a researcher who focuses on chemicals that cause endocrine disruption.
3. Harmful chemicals in water from plastic bottles may increase the risk of heart attack
People exposed to BPA compounds are at increased risk of developing heart disease, according to a 2012 study published in the scientific journal "Cyrkulacja." While this doesn't necessarily prove a cause-and-effect relationship, researchers say that when BPA and high blood pressure are combined, the risk of heart disease increases significantly. According to a 2015 study published in the journal "Nadciągnie," the blood pressure of adults who drank canned beverages containing BPA increased almost immediately.
4. Refilling plastic bottles can expose you to potentially harmful microbes.
Unlike glass and metal packaging, plastic bottles are susceptible to damage from regular use. Even small cracks can provide a haven for bacteria, according to a research review published in the journal Practical Gastroenterology.
While most bacteria are harmless, according to Charles Gerb, a professor of microbiology and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona, plastic bottles can harbor the norovirus, which causes the flu. Regular washing with soap and hot water can help combat the germs, but this can further damage the plastic bottle.
5. Plastic packaging and bottles are harmful to the environment.
Most plastic bottles are recycled. However, less than 1% of all plastic used today is reused. Most plastic packaging, plastic bags, and so on, end up in the trash (according to a 2017 study in the journal "Advances in Science"). The study was based on plastic produced between 1950 and 2015. If this trend continues, the study's authors estimate there will be over 26 million pieces of plastic litter in the environment by 2050. Therefore, the European Union plans to introduce a resolution in 2021 banning single-use plastic packaging and replacing it with biodegradable packaging.
6. Water in plastic bottles is expensive.
A 1-liter bottle of water costs about 2.80 PLN. For that price, you can get about 1,200 liters of tap water.
7. We often buy tap mineral water in plastic bottles.
According to research conducted at the University of Glasgow, up to 40% of bottled water actually comes from tap water. It's simply artificially enriched with minerals and skillfully marketed using marketing tricks, such as labels featuring images of mountain streams and creeks.
Intensive efforts to improve the quality of municipal water have recently made tap water completely safe to drink. Moreover, it often contains minerals essential for our health: magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium, making it similar in composition to water sold in stores. A 2012 study of randomly sampled tap water in Stargard Szczeciński showed that, compared to 14 of the most popular bottled waters, tap water ranked seventh in quality.
So what kind of water is best to drink?
The only danger that may arise from drinking tap water is the trace amounts of chlorine it contains, which protect it from bacterial growth and contamination by sediment from old pipes. To ensure the purity of your tap water, Polish waterworks offer an online test that detects the chemical compounds present in your tap water.
Another effective way to obtain clean tap water is to use water filters with quality certificates. These are found in modern double-compartment refrigerators with water dispensers. They can also be installed under the sink, or you can simply buy a jug with a filter that you replace monthly.
Practical and eco-friendly containers for water and infusions - plastic-free water
The containers we use to drink water are also important. At home, we should drink it from a glass, but when we go out, we should use Glass or metal bottles . Made of double-walled, non-toxic, and BPA-free 18/8 stainless steel, these thermal bottles are perfect for carrying water to work, on a walk, or to the gym.
On cold days, we recommend using glass thermal bottles with infusers, allowing you to prepare healthy and warming infusions yourself. Made of double-walled, heat-resistant borosilicate glass, the thermal bottles are sealed with a BPA-free bamboo cap. Filled with hot water, they guarantee warmth for an hour without burning your hands. They are therefore convenient to carry in any situation. By using them in your home, you will be contributing to lower environmental pollution, your own health, and… savings in your household budget.