Contaminants Found in Reused Water Bottles

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Is it safe to refill disposable water bottles if you wash them between uses?

Contaminants Found in Reused Water Bottles

The belief that reusing plastic water bottles is safe is a mistaken one that can lead to serious health problems. Before you fill up an empty disposable water bottle, make sure you are aware of the risks of your actions. When you refill single use water bottles, you are risking exposing yourself to various types of bacteria, as well as potential carcinogens. Studies have found DHEA, a known carcinogen, and fecal coliform bacteria lurking in refilled water bottles.

The argument that it's safe to reuse disposable water bottles as long as you wash them between uses is false. First, consumers don't have the ability to truly sterilize these types of bottles. If you wash out a bacteria laced water bottle with warm, soapy water, it's a fact that the disease causing bacteria are likely to still be present when you are finished.

Additionally, the type of plastic used to make disposable water bottles isn't designed to sustain the heat necessary for sterilization. If you were able to sterilize your water bottles to the extent that any bacteria were destroyed, you'd likely be exposed to toxic compounds from the plastic when you drank water from them. What you need to remember is that disposable water bottles might be safe to use one time, but they should never be refilled.

   

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