Reusing plastic water bottles... safe?

Question

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/smallbusiness/05shortcuts.html?ref=health

According to this New York Times article plastic bottles, when reused may leech dangerous chemicals.

DO NOT answer just for points because you won't get them unless your answer is thorough and informative.

Answer 1

I had heard this before and recently there was a news segment on it on the 10 o clock news.



First, they should not sit in the sun. Plastic that sits in the sun releases some type of gases or poisons and contaminated the water.

Second...The bottles hold germs. Unless you wash them in super hot water they germs stay... But when you wash it in the hot water, we are back at the first point of releasing poisons.



I also just heard a month or so ago on the radio... You should not heat ANYTHING in the microwave using ANY plastic even if it says it is microwaveable. They even said if your TV dinner is in a plastic platter even... So only eat the ones in the paperish/cardboard containers.....

Answer 2

Storing foodstuffs and drink in plastics with recycle #'s 3, 6 & 7 are the most unsafe to use, the others aren't so bad but not 100% safe either. It's always better to use glass. Most bottled water comes in #1, and it's really only good for one time use. Even at room temperature, chemicals can leach off from the plastic into the food or drink, like Bisphenol-A (BPA) which can affect brain chemistry and structure, behavior, the immune system, and male and female reproductive systems, and has also been linked to cancer.

Answer 3

I always reuse mine. I fill them with water and put them in the freezer. When I take them out, they gradually thaw making very good cold water to drink. (fyi...you actually burn calories by drinking cold water). Anyway, an email went around about the dangers.

Upon further research, having them in the freezer actually inhibits growth of anything harmful. The danger is when the plastic is heated that releases harmful chemicals. #1 do not leave your bottled water in a hot car. How many people do you think drive around with bottled water and take a sip when they get back in the car? You should never reuse the plastic containers that frozen dinners come in due to this danger also.

Answer 4

ya know, its like anything they tell you about 'do not refill, do not reuse, etc. Why would a plastic bottle leech chemicals when reused, but not when it contains the original contents? Possibly the danger lies in what you refill it with. Water sold in bottles is 'pure' (though most really isn't any purer than tap water), and water from the faucet may contain chlorine, flouride, or other chemicals used in the processing to make it 'safe'to drink.

These chemicals COULD cause a reaction with the material (HDPE or LDPE plastics) that would cause it to leech dangerous chemicals.

Answer 5

Some kinds of plastic bottles do leak chemicals after some time and it could be dangerous to drink water from them. Basically, don't keep using the same water bottle for 6 months.

Answer 6

Plastic releases chemicals anyway, especially when frozen for long periods. Newer plastics were or have been developed to minimize the amount that is leaked out. I wouldn't think there would be anymore risk of using it once than using it multiple times. It would be wise to sterilize it though.

Answer 7

IT IS NOT SAFE . . . BECAUSE IT LEAK SOME HARMFUL CHEMICALS . .