Why Scientists Want You to Stop Drinking Bottled Water

There are people who always drink tap water, while others prefer bottled water. In the case of Spain, for example, both are safe and undergo many checks, but especially the first. In fact, in our country, tap water is the food product that is subject to the most control. For this reason, many experts recommend choosing this option, since it is more environmentally friendly. Additionally, we now add to this that, according to new research, drink bottled water may involve risks that we do not sufficiently consider.

It was carried out by a group of scientists from Weill Cornell Qatar Medicine. After examining a large number of studies on this topic carried out around the world, they confirmed that almost everywhere the same thing is happening as in Spain: tap water is subject to more control. Bottled water is also tested, but these tests often reveal traces of many of the chemicals associated with plastic packaging. If it finally hits the market, it will be because levels are safe. However, subsequent manipulations and long-term cumulative effects must be taken into account.

None of this means that drinking bottled water is extremely dangerous. In general, it’s safe. However, if this is not essential, tap water This will always be the best option, for this and many other reasons.

Be careful with plastic packaging

Reports analyzed in this study indicate the presence of plastic pollution in 10%-78% samples analyzed bottled water. Among the most common substances are microplastics, phthalates, alkylphenols, polychlorinated biphenyls, polyfluoroalkyl substances and bisphenol A (BPA).

There are many known negative health effects of these compounds. For example, they are associated with oxidative stress, immune deregulation and possible effects of obesity through changes in lipid metabolism. Moreover, many of these substances endocrine disruptorswhich interfere with the functioning of essential hormones in our body.

When we drink bottled water, we ingest this plastic. Fortunately, most countries have legislation that sets maximum safe levels. If water sells, it is because it is in the appropriate range.

Nevertheless, when stored at high temperaturesFor example, more plastic may be released in a way that can no longer be measured. In addition, the long-term effects are not exactly known. Microplastics have already been found in many different parts of our body, from the blood to the brain, through breast milk or lungs, among other areas. It seems that little by little they accumulate and it is unknown from what quantity they could become dangerous. Therefore, the more direct consumption of these substances is avoided, the better.

There should be no panic. These are likely not alarming levels. But it’s better to save as little as possible.

Sometimes you just pay more

This study also indicates that there are countries such as the US where up to two thirds of bottled water is repackaged tap water. Therefore, buying it in this format does not make much sense, since we end up drinking much more expensive tap water.

Also, avoid drinking bottled water in areas where it is not guaranteed to be kept cool. If bottles have been sitting in the sun, drinking from them is a bad idea.

Other reasons not to drink bottled water

The main reason why it is recommended to avoid drinking bottled water is the environment. A plastic bottle can take several hundred to a thousand years to decompose. It depends on where you are and the type of plastic used. PET scan is one of the ones that takes the most time. It is estimated that in Spain only 36% plastic bottles They are separated for processing. For this reason, 64% of bottles end up in landfills, where they cannot decompose and accumulate, contaminating the soil or reaching aquatic ecosystems.

We can drink bottled water, but be sure to throw the containers away. yellow container. However, even then, sometimes they are not recycled. In fact, we have to be careful with the choice of plastic. When it comes to colored plastic, Sometimes the sensors that help separate types of plastic don’t recognize it correctly, so they are separated by hand and not recycled.

Reasons to drink bottled water

There are two reasons why some people choose to drink bottled water. The main one is usually bad taste. In Spain, for example, water in coastal cities tastes much better. disgusting. This has to do with the route he takes to reach our homes.

There is no large deposit for the entire country. The water is collected locally from swamps and dams, made potable and chlorinated. Then he goes to piping system it brings it into our homes. In coastal areas where severe drought occurs, seawater can be used, but a preliminary desalination step will need to be added.

Whatever the type, water passes through very different terrain on its way to the tanks and pipes in each location. It is imbued with the minerals of the area. They are not dangerous and are not removed during the cleaning process. In fact, they are necessary because these minerals are beneficial for our health and are sometimes difficult to consume in other ways. However, the final taste varies greatly from one to another. For example, in places in Spain such as Catalonia or Sierra de GuadarramaGranite predominates in Madrid, which helps It’s best to filter the water as it goes through.

On the other hand, in the coastal areas of the river. Levant bigger stone lime. It’s not dangerous, but it tastes worse. For this reason, in coastal cities, especially those in this area, the population prefers to drink bottled water.

What to do if you have heart problems?

Sometimes a doctor may recommend that patients with heart disease drink bottled water. But not just anyone. Only the one classified as water weak mineralization. This is because they cannot overuse those minerals, the levels of which are much higher in tap water.

Why do you want to drink bottled water?

There are studies that show that people who usually drink bottled water because of the unpleasant taste will not be able to recognize it in blind tasting That is, if they drink two glasses of water without knowing which one is from the tap and which one is from the bottle, they will not be able to distinguish between them.

Take the test. If you don’t realize this either, you may be wasting your money and consuming microplastics.