A food safety expert has sounded the alarm on bottled water that’s been allowed to heat up under direct sunlight or in the car.
As summer finds its rhythm, and your house starts heating up, not to mention excitable pets overheating in the sunshine – or if you live somewhere that’s warm year round – heeding this advice sooner could pay dividends later, she argues.
Food safety expert warns against potential hazards of drinking warmed bottled water
When bottled water heats up, chemicals from the plastic can leach into the water, according to Sarah Lawson. She’s a food safety expert from Storage Box Shop.
If you leave a bottle of water in the sun or a hot environment like a car, chemicals like BPA and phthalates can build up in the water, eventually reaching levels that are harmful to humans.
BPA stands for bisphenol A. It’s a substance plastic manufacturers use when producing, for example, water dispensers, food storage containers and reusable drinks bottles. It’s good for making transparent and rigid plastics.
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Phthalates, meanwhile, form a family of synthetic chemicals with a broader variety of uses. They range from consumer to industrial products. They make plastics more flexible and durable.
How toxic are Bisphenol A and phthalates to the human body?
Since manufacturers started using BPA in plastic products, there has been an “increased awareness of its toxicity”, according to a research paper from 2022. That is, if dangerous levels build up after ingestion.
“BPA exposure,” if it reaches a certain level, “seems related to an increased risk of cancers, impaired immune function, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity.”
The toxicity of phthalates has also gained “increasing attention” in recent years. It has the potential to cause negative side effects in the organs and metabolic system.
Regulatory bodies have therefore already started banning certain phthalates. A research paper from 2023 discusses areas for concern, including testicular and ovarian function, metabolic effects, and risk of breast cancer.
Do they actually leach into water when the plastic warms up?
Sarah Lawson warns that anyone drinking warm bottled water might experience stomach issues, headaches, dizziness and hormone problems. She advises people to keep their bottled water cool.
The potential risks due to the prevalence of bisphenol A and phthalates exposure from water bottles has indeed become an important issue among regulators and scientists alike, according to a paper published in the Journal of Water & Health in 2021.
However, based on the authors’ risk assessment, BPA and phthalates “do not pose a serious concern for humans”. This is because the estimated intake of these chemicals is “far below” the tolerated daily intake for humans. The authors also add that more accurate data, and more research, will help scientists to understand the effects of these chemicals on human health.
So, while it’s certainly good to be aware of the potential hazards of ingesting dangerously high levels of BPA and phthalates, recent academic research suggests this may not be an issue worth adding to your list of things to worry about on a daily basis.
