Bottled Water? Think Twice

CAIRO: To the majority of us, plastic seems to be a smart invention. Especially those plastic bottles that are filled with our favorite soft drinks and juices and not to forget our many brands of bottled water.
If you asked me a few years ago, I’d tell you plastic is light, sturdy, and resistant to moisture and anything else is just extra weight to my already heavy bag. Others might think plastic is great because it’s an innovative form of packaging and it’s inexpensive and based on that, any of the rumors that criticize plastic, pale in comparison to its so-called “umpteen blessings.”
However, superficial benefits should not be excusable anymore; plastic is considered a lethal weapon to our suffering earth and to our precious bodies.
Almost all plastic bottles are made from Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is produced by extracting hydrocarbons from crude oil and mixing it with chemical catalysts. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most harmful components found in the lining of plastic food containers and plastic water bottles. Studies have shown that these chemicals are hazardous to our health and have linked them to diseases like diabetes, cancer and birth defects.
Another reason why BPA is dangerous to our health is because it’s considered an environmental oestrogen that disrupts the endocrine system by mimicking the role of the body’s natural hormones, which are responsible for growth and reproduction.
According to a study carried out by American scientists at the University of Cincinnati, if plastic bottles are exposed to UV light or heat, or are put in a dishwasher like most baby bottles, they will release BPA. If bottles are exposed to hot water, they are more likely to release higher levels of BPA and 55 times faster than before exposure.
After you’ve taken that last sip of cool water, the bottle is reused, recycled or thrown away. What people don’t know is how low the recycle rate for plastic bottles really is. Only 15-35% of plastic bottles visit recycling factories on a global scale, the rest is poured into landfills or scattered as litter.
Plastic takes hundreds of years to decay; in the meantime, they can be mistaken for food by birds and fed to their chicks. This will lead to mass deaths because organisms are unable to digest the man-made chemical.
Plastics that are scattered around in landfills leak toxins into the ground contaminating the soil and water, which eventually takes its toll on the crops that we consume everyday.
According to another study by Charles Moore, a marine researcher titled World’s largest landfill is in the middle of the ocean; he writes “Our photographers captured images of jellyfish hopelessly entangled in frayed line, and transparent filter feeding organisms with colorful plastic fragments in their bellies.”
Moore continues to write “I can no longer see pristine images when I think of the briny deep. Neither can I imagine any “beach cleanup” type of solution. Only elimination of the source of the problem can result in an ocean nearly free from plastic”. The levels of plastic particulates in the Pacific have at least tripled in the last ten years and a tenfold increase in the next decade is not unreasonable. Then, sixty times more plastic than plankton will float on its surface.
Osama Diab, a young Egyptian journalist recalls his days as a child saying that carrying bottled water was a fashion statement; “We were brought up to think that drinking bottled mineral water is healthy and also quite cool”.
Diab believes that in order to “fix” the problem there should be awareness campaigns to reverse the water bottle trend, “campaigns should send a subtle message saying that drinking bottled water is out of fashion. We shouldn’t just preach and address the conscience but work on making younger generations less reliant on plastic bottles of water by methods that are effective and attractive to teenage kids”.
It’s also very cost effective to purchase a water filter and attach it to your kitchen faucet. Some of the brands include Aqua Pure and Bionics Egypt, which ensure you get clean water.
Also, a great substitute for plastic is stainless steal cups, they’re reusable and they don’t contain any form of chemical lining. You can easily find them in stores like Starbucks, Beanos, On the Run gas stations etc. and utilize it as your beverage holder. This way you won’t only protect your health and the environment, but also your wallet.
Eco Options Egypt