What do you do when you finish drinking water from a disposable plastic bottle? Surely you have already decided to save some of them for reuse on a future occasion, have you?
After all, we all know the importance of recycling and we don't want to contribute to the oceans having more plastic than fish in a few decades.
But is this a safe attitude? Of course, preserving the environment and reducing waste are essential themes for the perpetuation of human life on earth, but this cannot be at the expense of our health.
Amid the sea of mismatched information on the Internet, we sometimes don't know who we can trust when it comes to health care. Therefore, we decided to clarify the doubts surrounding the reuse of plastic bottles once and for all.
Bisphenol A: It Exists And Is Carcinogenic, But It Is No Cause For Panic
You may have seen a message alerting you to the dangers of bisphenol A, a substance that would be found in containers made of hard polycarbonate-based plastic.
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Bisphenol A, or simply BPA, does exist and can cause changes in the endocrine and reproductive systems, and may even cause some cancers, prompting the sharing of warnings about this substance.
BPA is present in food and beverage packaging, bank statements, receipts and various other products. At this point, you may ask yourself: If BPA is so dangerous, why can it still be used? The answer lies in the amount of the substance that is released. Even in bottles, the amount of BPA is so tiny that it poses no risk to human health.
However, as a precaution, since 2012 Anvisa has banned the manufacture and importation of bottles containing this substance, as it would be more dangerous for babies than for adults.
And a very important detail: the flexible plastic bottles, those we know as PET bottles, do not have BPA in their composition. That way you don't have to fear BPA contamination when using or reusing such a bottle.
And the bacteria? Do they really take care of the little bottles?
Unlike BPA, are bacteria a real danger when it comes to reusing water bottles? And that is a reason to think twice before reusing a bottle.
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The problem starts with the low durability of these packages. As much as the container appears to be intact, repeated use can cause tiny cracks in the bottle walls, which are ideal environments for bacterial proliferation.
To make matters worse, if the bottle is not thoroughly washed, it will accumulate bacteria from our mouth, hands, desk, food court table, etc.
Thus, in order to safely reuse the water bottles, you must observe their integrity and wash them thoroughly (with detergent, not just a wash!) Between each use.
Another way to collaborate with the environment and your health is to invest in a reusable bottle made of glass or stainless steel, which is stronger, does not release BPA and does not generate as much waste.
Dangers Of Plastic Water Bottles (April 2024)
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