If you were not already aware, the water in five-gallon bottles stored in the sun can be toxic. A headline story in Listin Diario alerts Dominican consumers to the reality that the water stored outdoors for purchase could be contaminated. Originally, water companies bottled the water in glass, but the bottles would break and were heavy and this was replaced by PET. Listin Diario reports the bottles sell for RD$35 to RD$95.
Listin Diario reports that some businesses take efforts to shade the water bottles. Yet, another reality is that most of the water bottles are transported in trucks that already expose the bottles to the sunlight.
Scientific research shows that the effects of drinking bottled water that could be contaminated are accumulative, reports Listin Diario. Likewise, the hot temperatures facilitate the proliferation of bacteria inside the closed bottles.
Eureka Alert corroborates in a 24 June 2024 release the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences of China findings of a new study that delves into the potential health risks posed by the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from plastic water bottles when exposed to sunlight. The research, which systematically examined the composition and toxicity of VOCs emitted under ultraviolet-A (UV-A) and solar irradiation, underscored the need for safer storage practices to ensure drinking water safety.
Plastic water bottles are ubiquitous due to their convenience, yet they harbor potential risks, say the researchers. Sunlight exposure can lead these containers to degrade and emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are potentially detrimental to human health. The booming bottled water market underscores the urgency for safer alternatives.
Read more:
Listin Diario
Eurekalert
22 July 2024