Is Drinking Out Of Plastic Bottles Bad For You?
Short answer
Plastic bottles that contain BPA should be avoided, as BPA has been linked to many serious health conditions. Drinking from plastic bottles that do not contain BPA is largely safe, and email claims that you may have seen to the contrary do not reflect what we know about the chemicals that they contain.
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
You may have seen an email in your inbox alleging that plastic bottles and films release DEHA - believed by some to be a harmful carcinogen - when heated. The American Cancer Society, Cancer Research UK, and the World Health Organization all disagree. Most plastic bottles don't contain DEHA or release it when they’re exposed to heat. According to the EPA, there's also no evidence that DEHA causes birth defects, cancer, or other health problems in humans. The World Health Organization agrees - right now, there's no evidence that people can increase their risk of cancer by consuming DEHA.
More worrying is Bisphenol A, or BPA - also found in certain varieties of plastic bottles. BPA has been linked through various studies to low birth weight in babies, obesity in adults, endocrine disruption, delayed brain and behavioral development in children, among other effects. How much is safe is still up for debate: BPA is banned in Canada and partially banned in Turkey and Sweden. The US and the EU, on the other hand, are allowing it for now. If you're pregnant and/or want to err on the side of caution, you should avoid plastic bottles that contain BPA. It’s commonly found in reusable water bottles. According to the FDA, however, the BPA in such bottles is not enough to cause harm.
The most common plastic in water bottles is polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. Some student research has indicated that PET is good only for one use; use it more than once, they say, and it'll leach DEHA and other dangerous chemicals into the water. This notion has not been borne out in the scientific literature; right now, the best evidence we have says that PET is indeed safe for reuse. One important caveat: wash your bottle thoroughly - PET plastic is porous, so repeated uses without washing could provide and environment for bacteria to thrive.
Using single-use plastic bottles probably isn’t bad for you. What it is bad for, however, is the environment. If you aren't reusing single-use bottles, recycling them, or drinking out of a bottle designed for reuse, those plastic bottles are ending up in a landfill. Plastic bottles are often made using oil, as well - driving the depletion of Earth's carbon reserves and the steady march of global warming. Be sure to recycle your single-use bottles after you're done with them or purchase a reusable bottle.
Possible long-term side effects
- bpa linked to:
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neurological disorders
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adhd
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heart problems
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diabetes
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liver damage
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insulin resistance
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cell mutation
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reproductive disorders
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cancer
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fetal cell toxicity
Ingredients to be aware of
- bisphenol a
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polyethylene terephthalate (may or may not be dangerous)
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deha (may or may not be dangerous)
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Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-11-2016
Last updated: 11-28-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-11-2016
Last updated: 11-28-2023
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