This is why you should never refill your plastic water bottle … even if you wash it
The heatwave should have you glugging lots of H20 but don't be tempted to keep reusing the disposable containers
WITH temperatures soaring we should all be reaching for the water to keep cool.
But while staying hydrated is essential in the rare UK heatwave, refilling your plastic water bottle could do you more harm than good ... and not just for the obvious reasons.
Bug Heaven
According to scientists the ridges and tiny cracks in plastic bottles are a breeding ground for bacteria and can harbour dangerous germs, such as the norovirus.
With most of us rinsing rather than washing properly, they continue to multiply.
One study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, took 76 samples of water bottles used by school students. Nearly two-thirds of the samples had bacterial levels that exceeded that of drinking water guidelines, which may have been the result of “the effect of bacterial regrowth in bottles that have remained at room temperature for an extended period.
Another study, carried out by KLTV news, examined water bottles which had been reused for just a WEEK and took samples from the neck.
Richard Wallace, M.D., of the University of Texas Health Center, told KLTV: “All of those grew lots and lots of bacteria that could make you very sick almost like having food poisoning,
“That can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Basically the worst vomiting you have ever had in your life.”
What if I wash it?
Washing with a mild soapy water can keep the bacteria at bay for a while but the bottles are difficult to clean properly and the germs can still build up.
Also, frequent usage and washing will cause breakdown of the plastic, especially if washed at too high a heat.
Scott Belcher, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati: “Heating will certainly increase the rate at which chemicals can migrate from the plastic,”
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It’s not even saving the planet
OK, so we don’t want to send millions of plastic bottles to landfill, the act of individually washing each bottle uses natural resources and puts soap and detergent into water supplies.
According to studies at the University of Columbia, this can be just as damaging to the environment.
Having said that, drinking enough water is vital to your health and you shouldn;t worry about reusing the bottle a few times.
If in doubt, a glass or a dishwasher-safe, refillable container seems to be the way forward.