Drinking water from plastic bottles left in hot car is dangerous to health—experts explain why
With busy lives, people might not pay attention to everyday things that could be affecting their health. Keeping plastic water bottles in a hot car for a long time can be one of those. Most people might prefer to stay hydrated as they get out of their house, especially on a hot day. However, the choice of container can have a lasting impact on a person's health, per a study by Nanjing University in China. The effect becomes worse with more exposure to heat and for a larger number of days.
The reason behind the health concern are the microplastic particles present in bottled water from most brands. The plastic particles might get released into the water due to the heat inside a car. Another study from the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research conducted in 2023 found high concentrations of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, in bottled water left outside in the sun. 20 water brands were evaluated through the research. The team was also able to detect 28 other plastic additives in the water. The chemicals are known to get inside water slowly, but ultraviolet light and heat can make this process faster, per The Washington Post. On the other hand, control samples kept in the dark or in refrigerators released less to no particles.
The researchers assured that a one-off incident might not pose a significant threat, but people might need to be careful about constant exposure to water from overheated plastic bottles. "I would be cautious about repeated or chronic exposures," Jamie Ross, assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of Rhode Island, explained. A person should not leave remaining water after drinking in a warm environment either as it becomes suitable for the growth of other pathogens that can make a person sick. Microparticles and nanoparticles from such bottles can pose a significant health risk as these can enter the tissues in a person's liver, colon, placenta, lung, brain, kidney, heart and even blood cells. It could also affect breast milk, according to Nicole Deziel, associate professor of environmental health sciences at the Yale School of Public Health.
Deziel further added that chemicals in plastic, like phenols and phthalates, can also cause pregnancy and neurodevelopmental issues. However, one might not need to stop drinking water from a single-use plastic bottle altogether. "The dangers of dehydration are far worse than the dangers of being exposed to the microplastics," Christopher Hine, associate on staff in the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic, pointed out. At the same time, the International Bottled Water Association argued that the safety of bottled water was FDA-regulated and that bottled water is safe to drink.
They added that considering drinking water as the main route for the oral intake of micro and nanoplastics was not justified based on currently available findings. At the same time, there wasn't enough scientific evidence to explain the effects of micro-plastic consumption on a person's health. According to The Washington Post, people can take several steps if they are concerned about microplastic exposure through drinking water. One can use stainless steel or glass bottles and store plastic bottles away from heat, as well as regularly throw out single-use plastic bottles. It was also suggested that the same caution should be exercised with plastic food containers.