By: Ellina Koo

Do you know how bad it is to reuse plastic water bottles? There are several atrocious health effects that stem from reusing plastic bottles, and you will learn all the dreadful things about the overuse of plastic bottles. Over millions of plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, and although many people recycle them, some decide that it is best to reuse them instead of throwing them out. Unfortunately, people don’t know the reality of what can occur when they make this horrible act a habit.

Plastic bottles Can Have Disgusting Germs

Germs are everywhere, and people should be aware of them, especially when drinking water from plastic bottles. The slimy layer is mainly from mouth bacteria and can contain waterborne pathogens as well as germs from hands that contaminate the water when unscrewing the cap. For instance, in an August 2018 study in the ​Journal of Exercise Physiology​, researchers compared 30 used disposable water bottles belonging to gym-goers and 30 new unopened water bottles. None of the new water bottles had bacterial contamination, while 90 percent of the used bottles contained pathogens, including E. coli. This indicates that the germs lead to infection and can potentially have even worse health problems. Therefore, people should be more conscious, especially during this pandemic.

Reused Plastic Bottles Can Leach Toxic Chemicals

The repeated reuse of plastic bottles, which get chimed up through normal wear while being washed, increases the chance that chemicals will leak inside through cracks that develop over time. According to the Environment California Research & Policy Center, which reviewed 130 studies on the topic, BPA has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels. BPA and similar chemicals are frequently found in bottles. Therefore, people should keep in mind that reusing it repeatedly can cause serious problems. To avoid the risks, nobody should be reusing bottles at any time. 

Safe Reusable Bottles 

There are many safe reusable bottles that exist, which are great for people who are most comfortable with using their bottles multiple times. Such choices like aluminum and stainless water bottles and low-density polyethylene are safer. These bottles can be used several times and can eventually be recycled at any time. I would recommend S’Well, Hydro Flask, or Yeti if you’re in the market for a safe, reusable water bottle.

Some of the negative effects of reusing plastic bottles may sound repulsive, but the truth of what actually happens should be spread out to everyone so that it can come to an end. During this lengthy pandemic, everyone should be careful by washing their hands and doing what’s best to stay healthy. In order to stay hydrated, drink lots of water, and remember not to refill plastic bottles afterward!

Photo courtesy of budwigcenter.com