Ubiquitous plastic is not our ally when it comes to maintaining good health. We present 7 reasons why it is safer to give up plastic PET bottles. We also suggest how and with what to replace plastic bottles.
Everyone knows that water is the healthiest liquid a person can drink. When we look at our body, we see skin and feel muscles and bones, but we rarely realize that from a chemical point of view, water accounts for as much as 60% of an adult woman's body and 70% of an adult man's body. Water in the body regulates body temperature, transports nutrients, and removes toxins.
Water balance in the body
The circulation and exchange of water in the body happen constantly, and to maintain a proper balance, we should drink at least as many fluids as we lose. Water loss occurs: through the breathing process (approx. 0.5 l per day), excretion (1.4 liters per day), and perspiration (0.5 liters). It is generally accepted that one should drink a minimum of 1.5 liters of water per day. However, WHO experts consider drinking up to 3 liters of water per day to be the norm. The demand varies depending on: climate zone, time of year, ambient temperature, frequency and intensity of physical exertion, weight, metabolism, frequency of consuming coffee, tea, alcohol, and high-calorie meals, as well as the state of the body's health. Furthermore, we lose more H2O during illness.
What 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 does not change the chemical composition of the substance it contains, a plastic bottle reacts with the water, releasing harmful substances. For a long time, ecologists have been sounding the alarm about how much plastic harms the environment. Today, mainly thanks to research by Dr. bla bal from the University of New York, we know that water drunk from plastic bottles also harms 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.
It is enough to regularly use a plastic water bottle or leave it in the sun, in a hot car, a heated yoga studio, or place it next to a running microwave, and the outer layers of the plastic are damaged. As a result of higher temperatures, plastic marked with recycling code 3 or 7 can release a chemical compound called Bisphenol A (BPA), and plastic free of BPA compounds – Bisphenol S (BPS).
Both of these chemical compounds, which are also found on store receipts, metal cans, and in other places in our environment, can contaminate the liquid you drink from your bottle. Research on this subject was conducted by Cheryl Watson, a doctoral student and biochemist at the University of Texas in Galveston. During extensive research, Watson examined the impact of BPA and BPS compounds on the human body. The results suggest that ingesting even a negligible amount of BPA and BPS can cause changes in the functioning of your hormonal system. This is because these substances resemble the female hormone, estrogen, in their structure. Exposure to these compounds is linked to chronic diseases, including: diabetes, asthma, and cancer. Animal studies suggest that exposing 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 subsequent generations.
2. Chemical compounds contained in plastic can make it difficult to conceive.
Scientists have discovered that both men and women participating in in-vitro fertilization processes who have high concentrations of BPA in their blood, urine, or work environment have a lower probability of fertilization. The research results were published in the journal "Reproductive Toxicology" in a review summarizing 91 studies conducted in 2013. This shows that BPA, by imitating estrogen, affects pregnancy development, fertilization, and embryo implantation in the uterus. The research was led by Sheela Sathyanarayana of the Seattle Children's Research Institute, who focuses her research on chemicals that cause endocrine disruption.
3. Harmful chemical compounds in water from plastic bottles can increase the risk of heart attack.
People exposed to BPA compounds are more likely to develop heart disease, according to a 2012 study published in the scientific journal "Circulation." This does not necessarily prove a causal relationship, but researchers argue that when BPA is combined with high blood pressure, the risk of heart disease increases significantly. According to a 2015 study published in the journal "Hypertension," the blood pressure of adults who drank beverages from cans containing BPA compounds increased almost immediately.
4. Refilling plastic bottles can expose you to potentially harmful microorganisms.
Unlike glass and metal containers, plastic bottles are damaged by regular use. Even small cracks can harbor bacteria, according to a review of research published in the journal "Practical Gastroenterology."
While most bacteria are harmless, according to Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and environmental science at the University of Arizona, plastic bottles can store the norovirus, which causes the flu. While regular washing with soap and hot water could help fight germs, doing so may damage the plastic bottle even further.
5. Plastic packaging and bottles are harmful to the environment.
Most plastic bottles are sent for recycling. However, less than 1% of all plastic currently used is reused. Most plastic packaging, plastic bags, etc., end up in the trash (according to a 2017 study in the journal "Science Advances"). The study was based on plastic produced between 1950 and 2015. If this trend continues, the authors of the study estimate there will be over 26 million tons of plastic waste 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.
You have to pay about 2.80 PLN for a 1l bottle of water. At that price, you can get about 1200 liters of tap water.
7. In plastic bottles, we often buy mineral water that is actually tap water.
According to research conducted at the University of Glasgow, up to 40% of bottled waters actually come from the tap. They are only artificially supplemented with minerals and skillfully sold using marketing tricks, such as labels with images of mountain streams and creeks.
Intensive efforts to improve the quality of water from municipal waterworks taken in modern times have made tap water perfectly suitable for drinking. Moreover, it often contains the most important minerals for our health: magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium, thus possessing a water composition similar to water sold in stores. A 2012 study of tap water taken at random in Stargard Szczeciński showed that tap water ranked seventh in terms of quality when compared with the 14 most popular bottled waters.
Therefore, what is the best water to drink?
The only danger that may arise in the case of drinking tap water is the trace amounts of chlorine protecting it from bacterial growth and contamination with sediment from old pipes. To be sure of the purity of tap water, Polish waterworks offer the option to purchase an online test that detects which chemical compounds are present in the tap water taken from your home.
An effective way to obtain clean tap water is to use water filters equipped with quality certificates. We can find them in modern dual-chamber refrigerators with a water dispenser. They can also be installed under the sink or you can simply buy a pitcher with a filter replaced every month.
Practical and eco-friendly vessels for water and infusions — water without plastic
The vessels we use to drink water are also important. At home, it should be drunk from a glass, and when going out, we should use glass or metal bottles. Made of double-walled, non-toxic, and BPA-free 18/8 stainless steel, thermal bottles are suitable for carrying water to work, for a walk, or to the gym.
On cold days, let's use glass thermal bottles with infusers that allow you to prepare healthy and warming infusions yourself. Made of double-walled, heat-resistant borosilicate glass, thermal bottles are closed with a bamboo, BPA-free cap. Filled with hot water, they guarantee warmth for an hour while not burning your hands. They are, therefore, convenient to carry in any situation. By using them privately, we will take care of less environmental pollution, our own health, and… savings in the household budget.
