Do chemicals from plastic bottles release into the contents?

Question

I was wondering if the plastic water bottles I drink from contain any chemicals released from the plastic. If you burn or melt plastic, there is a residue. Does this mix with the contents of the bottle? Seems like I can taste some chemical in Ozarka water and I was wondering if I was doing some chemical damage to my liver or something. It seems logical to assume that unless the bottles were washed really good, that there would be some residue from the molding process. Do they even wash the bottles before filling them? Anyone know?

WOW FREEBIRD! I am thinking about the taste and it is in fact the water, I have never tasted it in another brand. I truly appreciate the time you spent on this question. It is amazing the things we can discover. I never knew that there were special plastics for bottles, thought plastic was plastic. I feel safer drinking my water, but I will switch brands because I believe there is some chemical entering this brand somehow. I can only hope that the chemicals that have met FDA guidelines are in fact safe, but we have to have faith that someone is on top of our safety. Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes, anything that comes into contact with food, water, or anything will leave a residue. There will be "leeching". Current studies are being performed on Styrofoam and Benzene Leeching. And yes, it does affect our health. Benzene has been detected in people who use styrofoam... and we KNOW that benzene is a strong carcinogen.

It doesn't matter how many times you wash the bottle or can. There will always be leeching. The question is, "How much?" In which case, stay informed by reading. I assure you that as soon as the scientific community knows, so will you.

Oh, and we are now linking Aluminum to Alzeimers. Think about that the next time you drink out of an aluminum can or use an underarm deoderant with aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly.

Answer 2

I am a manager of a plastic bottle manufacturer. Your answer, in short, is NO.

Bottles are usually either washed, or Hot-Filled. Hot filled means that the contents are so hot when the enter the bottle, any possible pathogens are killed instantly (over 195 degrees). In either case, the purpose would be to remove/kill pathogens (bacteria), not chemicals.

There is no residue from the molding process from any food grade resin. There are no toxic elements used in the production process. The plastic resin is just heated enough to become "plastic" (hence the name). There is no loss in weight, nor any significant change in physical properties that would be apparent if a portion of the resin was being converted to a residue, other than become more elastic and moldable.

The only common plastic that imparts an odor or taste to a product is PVC, and only if it's fresh (filled withing a couple of days after molding, new PVC bottles STINK). That's why PVC is not a food grade resin. Water bottles are never made from PVC. Individual serving water containers (and other food bottles) are usually made from PET (clear water bottle), though you may see HDPE (Orange Juice bottles, Some Milk), PolyPropylene (Tea Bottles, some juices) or Polystyrene (5 Gallon "Sparklets" bottles). Look at the recycle code on the bottom to find out which yours it (probably PET) None impose flavors or taste. In fact, before a new resin is even allowed into the food market, there is an FDA test that requires an absence of imposed taste or smell in a food container. These same resins are used for medical applications such as syringes, artificial valves, etc., with no problems of that type.

That you only taste the chemicals in one brand of water makes me think that it's the water, or their processing method. For example, some of the bottled waters contain chlorine, just like your home tap water. Many times it is tap water. If left in the sun for a long period, the chlorine will evaporate into the head space (bubble) of the filled container. It's miniscule, and harmless, but occasionally detectible.

The only other possiblities are age and storage. Oxygen can pass through most food grade plastics. If the content is susceptible to degradation from oxygen (beer for example), this may change the taste. Same is true with storage. If a content is susceptible to change from UV light (sunlight), storing clear bottles in the sun may allow a change in the contents smell or taste. That's why many bottles are colored green or brown. Today's "designer" waters may have an ingredient that reacts to Oxygen or UV.

Just for the record, glass and aluminum have far more chemicals involved in their manufacture than any plastic food container. (I've worked in all three industries).

Answer 3

I've noticed the taste too. Because of chemical release, I was told we shouldn't freeze water in plastic bottles.

Answer 4

Yes obsolutely. Plastic materials contain plastisizers,stabilizers,and other preservatives that can leech into the prodcts but the company manufacturers add some materials which makes these leeched materials inert , but cheaper company plastic bottles definetly leech them.

Answer 5

Yes and a news story said it speeds up puberty in women and does the opposite for men

Answer 6

Yes. Dioxins are released. There is also evidence to indicate that teflon releases into water supplies too. OOPS!

Answer 7

Yep, in the microwave. I store food in the fridge in plastic containers, but I reheat it ceramic.