What's your opinion re the safety issue when refilling plastic water bottles?

Question

Most people I know have been told that the plastic used in water bottles contains a potentially carcinogenic element and therefore the bottles are safe for one-time use only. Extensive research has convinced me the only safety issue is not cleaning the bottles out properly, i.e. the build-up of bacteria!

Should we not be more concerned with the manufacture and disposal of all these bottles???

Answer 1

I must confess, I do worry about most things that I eat and drink. So when this scare went round, I did take it seriously.
One way that I've got round it, is to actually buy one of the more expensive, glass bottles. They don't tend to have all those stupid ridges in them, so I assume harbour less bacteria.
Ok, so it's a bit heavy to lug around with you in your bag, but mine sits at my desk at work, and I just re-fill it from that water filter machine.
No-one has really mentioned any harmful effects from drinking from glass. Hell, if there are any, we'll all be in trouble!
Give it a try. It's better for the environment too. I've been using mine for about a month now. No need to replace it.

Answer 2

Whilst the type of plastic is slightly different, baby's feeding bottles are re-used many times.
However: ''Many are unaware of poisoning caused by re-using plastic bottles. Some of you may be in the habit of using and re-using your disposable mineral water bottles (eg. Evian, Aqua, Ice Mountain, Vita, etc), keeping them in your car or at work. Not a good idea. In a nutshell, the plastic (called polyethylene terephthalate or PET) used in these bottles contains a potentially carcinogenic element (something called diethylhydroxylamine or DEHA). The bottles are safe for one-time use only; if you keep them longer, it should be for no more than a few days, a week max, and keep them away from heat as well. Repeated washing and rinsing can cause the plastic to break down and the carcinogens (cancer-causing chemical agents) can leach into the water that YOU are drinking. Better to invest in water bottles that are really meant for multiple uses. This is not something we should be scrimping on. Those of you with family - do please advise them, especially children."

This is part of an article from a 'Natural Parenting' site in Oz.
Some of the small bottles of mineral water do say 'designed for single use only' or some such message printed on them somewhere (very small).
For the current (though not necessarily accurate!) view on the re-use of water bottles, look here:

Answer 3

Here's what I think: If the carcinogen theory is true, then the water companies would be opening themselves up to HUGE lawsuits. Why would the bottles leech carcinogen only into subsequent water poured into it? Why isn't it leeching out with the original water? I'm sure those bottles sit around for quite some time in the warehouses before being shipped out, and then sit on trucks, then sit on store shelves...

Come on. I think this is just the water companies trying to sell more of their product. I've been refilling water bottles for over 16 years and have never had a problem.

Answer 4

If you use a plastic bottle that has a removeable mouthpiece you can put this bit in the dishwasher to keep it fresh as it is the only part of the bottle that is going to get the germs from your mouth all the time. The other part of the bottle you can just rinse out every day. I would still change the whole lot every 2 weeks though.

Answer 5

It's just total rubbish. We pick up residues from any container we drink out of - ceramics, pottery and even a clean-looking glass. There is always residue.
Recently I've read that going swimming in a public swimming pool can give you an increased risk of developing asthma due to the chlorine reacting with other residues and evaporating.
And going into the city centre for a day with all the pollution caused by car exhausts does equivalent damage to your lungs as smoking 60 cigarettes.
And lets not forget going out in the sun is a risk to health, prepacked sandwiches have too high a level of salt and are bad for you....blah...bollocks...blah....life is full of dangers whatever you do.

But I digress: I refill and re use my plastic water bottles and have done since I was a kid. I do rinse them with hot water and mild detergent occasionally, and never use one for more than a couple of weeks at a time - ususally because they get too battered about in my bag and start to leak! XD

Answer 6

a million) plenty. 2) i do no longer use water in plastic bottles until eventually it truly is an emergency. I honestly have my own re-usable water bottles which I fill at homestead by ability of my filtration gadget. I care very a lot and am avid about recycling. i purchase products made from recycled plastic water bottles. no longer purely the water bottle difficulty, yet we recycle each and every thing. we do not own a "garbage can."

Answer 7

Crumbs, I re-use these bottles all the time!
Always filling one up to take with me on the school run. I'm too mean to buy bottled water all the time.
Personally, I think it's a con to try and get you to buy another bottle.
Clever marketing with just a hint of scare tactics.......
Look at the clever sod, who made a mint by putting "shampoo and then repeat" on the shampoo bottles.
Made companies a fortune.

Answer 8

I agree with most of these answers....i refill my bottles all the time....either give them a proper wash out every few weeks or just get another bottle if i can't be bothered...I'm so glad i'm not the only one.!!

Answer 9

IF THE WATER TASTES LIKE PLASTIC DO NOT DRINK IT
even if just bought,
exposure to sunlight can bring out those nasty plastic molecules
otherwise I reuse bottles a few times

Answer 10

Plastic water bottles are not healthy.Most of the plastic recats or some quanity dissolves in water.Plastic bottles donot decompose and become permanent ecological problem.Ban them.Glass bottels are non reactive or use paper or tetra pack.
save your world