Medically reviewed by Dr. Riaz Ali Shah.
Grocery stores, restaurants, and even your houses are filled with plastic bottles. It is widely known that drinking out of plastic bottles might not be the best idea, especially for the environment. But, we still continue to do so. And if you end up using a plastic bottle, you might think of ways to reuse it to save you money and the Earth. However, is this thinking safe? Is re-using the same plastic bottle harmful for you?
It has been said that when you reuse a plastic water bottle, the plastic on it starts to break down and this results in leaching harmful chemicals into your water. So read ahead and find out if it is safe for you to reuse your plastic bottles or not.
Plastic bottles and toxic chemicals are best friends
When you repeatedly re-use plastic bottle, they get worn off over a period of time. This tends to increase the chances of chemicals leaking out of the tiny cracks that develop on the bottles over time. BPA is a chemical that is used to make plastic bottles, and it has been linked to breast cancer, decreased testosterone levels, etc.
However, the amount of BPA that could leach into drinks is possibly small. But, you should be seriously concerned about the cumulative effect of these small amounts over a period of time.
Put them in the recycling bin
Reusing bottles made from plastic 1 (polyethylene terephthalate or PET) is safe only for one-time use and shouldn’t be used over and over again.
Plastic 3 (Also known as polyvinyl chloride or PVC) is extremely harmful to reuse, as it leaks hormone-disrupting chemicals into the liquids that are stored in the bottles. Moreover, they also tend to discharge synthetic carcinogens in the environment.
So instead of reusing these plastic bottles, put them in the recycling bin and save yourself from harmful health conditions.
If you are still keen on using the bottle- ways to clean them
It is better to get a bottle that is not made of plastic, but if you have already gotten one and don’t want to put it in the recycling bin. Then, follow these ways to clean them:
- Use dishwashing soap and hot water to clean the bottle properly
- If you drink a lot of sugary drinks in that bottle, then the risk of bacterial growth is higher therefore, drain, rinse and wash your bottle immediately.
- For mold on the bottle, sanitize it using 1 tsp. bleach, 1 tsp. baking soda and ¼ cup water. Put this solution in the bottle and let it sit overnight. Rinse it the next day before using it.
The last word by Dawaai
There isn’t much research done to prove if reusing plastic can be detrimental to your health. But, it can play a role in worsening your health. So, instead of finding ways to justify the re-usage of plastic, buy steel or a BPA bottle. Also, instead of throwing these plastic bottles in some random bin, put them in a recycling bin. Stay healthy and also keep the planet safe while you are at it!
Guest Credits: Asma Qadri
