Scientists have revealed a new risk of drinking from plastic water bottles, especially on a hot, sunny day.
Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, according to an industry analysis by Grand View Research. Many of these consumers opt for bottled water as a "safer" alternative to tap water on the basis that it has fewer contaminants. However, this is highly dependent on the quality of your local drinking water.
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In the past, scientists have warned that chemicals linked to hormonal imbalances, such as bisphenol A, or BPA, can leach out of these plastic containers, and hundreds of thousands of plastic particles have been found in each liter of bottled water.
Now, research has identified a new hazard from these plastic bottles, specifically when they are left out in the sun.
In a study published in the journal Eco-Environment & Health, scientists from China's Jinan University analyzed the mixture of gases released from six types of plastic water bottles when they were exposed to sunlight and UVA radiation. The bottles were sourced from different countries (Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Japan and China) and included spring water, distilled water and artesian water.
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The bottles emitted a complex cocktail of different chemicals, with significant variation between the different water types. Among these many chemicals was the highly toxic cancer-causing n-Hexadecane, along with several other known carcinogens.
"Our findings provide compelling evidence that plastic bottles, when exposed to sunlight, can release toxic compounds that pose health risks," lead researcher Huase Ou said in a statement. "Consumers need to be aware of these risks, especially in environments where bottled water is exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods."
However, this does not mean you should start panicking because you left your water bottle in the sun one time while playing pickleball.
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"Considering the small mass of a single bottle, the volatilization of [these potentially toxic compounds] from an individual container would be insignificant," the researchers write. "Even after prolonged exposure to light, the potential health risks associated with inhaling [toxic chemicals] when opening and drinking bottled water appear manageable."
Even so, research like this adds to a growing body of evidence that bottled water is not free of contamination. The authors said that understanding how environmental conditions can affect the chemicals released in bottled water can help guide manufacturers and regulatory bodies to ensure product safety and support public health.
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