Drinking water from plastic bottles left in vehicles could slowly poison the body, health experts are warning.
Research shows up to 80 percent of bottled water on the market today contains microplastics and other undisclosed substances linked to a host of ailments, including cancer, fertility problems, developmental delays in children, and metabolic disorders like diabetes.
And studies have shown that heat exposure, which can occur in vehicles without air conditioning running or in warm weather, can accelerate these toxic effects.
One study by researchers at Nanjing University in China exposed plastic water bottles to four weeks of intense heat at 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
After the heat exposure, the researchers found that the plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) had leached antimony (a toxic heavy metal) and bisphenol A (BPA) into the water.
Exposure to antimony can cause headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of sleep, while long-term effects can include inflammation of the lungs and stomach ulcers.
Meanwhile, bisphenol-A (BPA) has been linked to cancer, fertility issues, autism, cardiovascular complications, and even early death.
After just 20 minutes on an 80-degree faraemheit day, the CDC says the inside of a car can hit 109F. After 40 minutes, it hits 118F, and after an hour, it can rise to 123F.
Drinking water from plastic bottles left in vehicles could slowly poison the body, health experts are warning (stock image)
Following their investigation, Nanjing University advised against storing plastic water bottles in warm temperatures, as the release of antimony and BPA increased with storage temperature, especially at 158°F.
Another study in 2023 found similar results.
Researchers from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, also looked at the impact of high temperatures on plastic water bottles.
They discovered that four common plastics, including polyethylene, released microparticles and nanoparticles when they were heated to 98.6F.
Control samples that were kept in a dark, 40F refrigerator, however, released few to no particles.
One recent study found that no matter what the brand, bottles of plastic water contain hundreds of thousands of toxic microscopic plastic particles.
Scientists using the most advanced laser scanning techniques found an average of 240,000 plastic particles in a one-liter bottle of water, compared to 5.5 per one liter of tap water.
Columbia University researchers tested three popular brands of bottled water sold in the US – and, using lasers, analyzed the plastic particles they contained down to just 100 nanometers in size.
The particles – nanoplastics – are much smaller than the microplastics previously detected in bottled water.
However, the particles are considered potentially toxic because they are so small that they can enter directly into blood cells and the brain.
These microscopic particles carry phthalates – chemicals that make plastics more durable, flexible, and last longer.
Phthalate exposure is attributed to 100,000 premature deaths in the US each year. The chemicals are known to interfere with hormone production in the body.
They are ‘linked with developmental, reproductive, brain, immune, and other problems’, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The highest estimates found 370,000 particles.
While humans can’t see chemicals and microplastics with the naked eye, research is increasingly showing they have a big impact on our health.
These toxins are estimated to cost the US healthcare system about $290 million per year, as they have been linked to everything from birth defects to cancer, dementia to asthma, and infertility to children’s behavioral and learning difficulties.
Microplastics smaller than one micrometer, known as nanoplastics, are of most concern, as research has shown they can infiltrate cells.
Studies have revealed that microplastics can cause DNA damage and changes in gene activity, known for triggering cancer.
One recent study found, no matter what the brand, bottles of plastic water contain hundreds of thousands of toxic microscopic plastic particles
PFAS is a common contaminant in many household items from cookware to toilet paper
A recent study out of Jiroft University of Medical Science in Iran found that microplastics were found in all colorectal cancer tissue samples studied. The accumulation of these substances was higher in cancerous tissues compared to controls.
Based on the findings, health experts across the board have called for policymakers and industry leaders to take immediate action.
Researchers from London-based Deep Science Ventures warned after they conducted an eight-month investigation into the impact of chemical exposure on human health: ‘Based on our findings, failure to act decisively will likely lead to irreversible consequences for both human health and the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems.
‘Policymakers should consider the impact of toxicity on fertility, especially as many countries are struggling to boost it using expensive other incentives. This is important because human and planetary health is at stake.
‘For us to ensure our continued development and ability to thrive as a human species, we have to accelerate the growth of innovative, technological solutions and ensure these are funded and scaled at pace.’
According to the International Bottled Water Association, Americans drink some 15 billion gallons of bottled water each year – around 45 gallons per person.
