The Royal Hospital has warned against the reuse of plastic water bottles, saying they are “safe only for one-time use”. The hospital, in a statement, said these water bottles are made from polyethylene, which can “react negatively to human health under certain circumstances, especially in case of reuse”. It said such bottles can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Most plastic water bottles are marked with a ‘1’, which implies they are made from Polyethylene Terephthalate. Experts from Harvard University have said these are more or less related to cancer.
That’s because some of those bottles are made from plastic containing Bisphenol A (BPA) — a chemical, which is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of household items and is thought to interfere with sex hormones. The chemical isn’t found in ‘single-use’ water bottles, which are made from PET plastic. “They can affect ovulation and increase the risk of hormone-related problems such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, endometriosis and breast cancer, among other things,” Dr Marilyn Glenvillea, nutritionist, has said. Governments and health regulators across the world have varying positions on the harmfulness on BPA, emphasising the need for researchers to continue investigating whether the substance is truly toxic.
Therefore, experts recommend the use of water bottles made of glass or stainless steel.
Zainab al Nassri
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