Harmful effects of bottled water

Bottled Water

Harmful effects of bottled water

The harmful effects of bottled water: A manifesto 'Drink more water.' Drinking water is a necessary part of sustaining human life. Although the recommendations of how much water people should drink vary with the person's level of activity and the seasons, in general 6-8 glasses of water a day is considered optimal for good health, to prevent the individual from becoming dehydrated, to improve digestion, and encourage the efficient excretion of wastes from the body. Buying commercially-bottled water is a popular method of ensuring that healthy, safe and clean water is always at hand. "The average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976. In 2006, that number jumped to 28.3 gallons" (Plastic recycling facts, 2011, Earth911). However, despite the importance of drinking more water and drinking fewer sodas and sugary juices, bottled water is not the answer to improving American drinking habits, for environmental, health, and financial reasons.

Despite the fact that most forms of bottled water come in recyclable containers, there is often no guarantee that the bottles are actually recycled. "More than 2.4 billion pounds of plastic bottles were recycled in 2008. Although the amount of plastic bottles recycled in the U.S. has grown every year since 1990, the actual recycling rate remains steady at around 27%" (Plastic recycling facts, 2011, Earth911). Even the most environmentally-conscious person who recycles every bottle of water he or she consumes cannot guarantee that the bottles he or she throws in recycling bins will not end up in landfills. The only certain method of reducing waste is to carry a reusable bottle of water and fill it with safe tap water or filtered tap water.

There are serious health concerns about the safety of commercially-bottled water. While most commercially-bottled water is considered safe for human consumption, "Studies have shown that chemicals called phthalates, which are known to disrupt testosterone and other hormones, can leach into bottled water over time. One study found that water that had been stored for 10 weeks in plastic and in glass bottles contained phthalates, suggesting that the chemicals could be coming from the plastic cap or liner" (Bottled water, 2011, NRDC). Other contaminants have been found in some popular brands of bottled water, and no study has found that any brand of bottled water is substantially safer than tap water that satisfies basic, federal environmental standards.