Reusing plastic bottles

[Guest guest]

> I read this in a magazine recently also. I just have one

question...if this is true, then what is to stop the plastic from

breaking down in exactly the same manner during the first fill? Are

we drinking toxic dtuff when we open it and drink whatever came in

it? If not, then hy would it break down " only " if we refill it? It

just doesn't make sense to me. I'd really like to hear an answer to

this. Maybe you could ak your sister?<<<

Chrissie,

I did a little research and found this article. Not sure it really

makes the debate clearer, but it does show that there are conflicting

opinions based on studies.

Sheri

In Sunny Florida

Canada/USA: re-using water bottles may be a health risk

Dangerous bacteria and potentially toxic plastic compounds have been

found in the types of water bottles typically reused in classrooms

and workplaces. A study of 76 water bottles at a Calgary elementary

school in Canada found bacterial contamination in children's bottles

that would prompt health officials to issue boil-water advisories had

the samples come from a tap [1]. Total coliform exceeded water

quality guideline values in 13.3% of 75 samples, while faecal

coliform and total heterotrophic criteria were exceeded in 8.9% (of

68 samples) and 64.4% (of 76 samples) respectively. The bacteria

likely came from children's hands and mouths over time as they

repeatedly used the same bottles without washing them or allowing

them to dry.

A US study suggests the kind of thorough washing that could kill

bacteria might make the bottles unsafe in another way [2]. Frequent

washing might accelerate the break-down of the plastic, potentially

causing chemicals to leach into the water. Preliminary research at

the University of Idaho found that with repeated use, toxic chemical

compounds such as DEHA, can migrate out of plastic bottles made from

polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This contradicts earlier research

at EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and

Technology, which found no indication for migration of possible

photoproducts or additives from PET bottles into water [3]. The use

of PET bottles for solar water disinfection (SODIS) is widely

promoted for developing countries.

Web address: Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS), http://www.sodis.ch

[1] Oliphant, J.A., , M.C. and Chu, A. (2002). Bacterial water

quality in the personal water bottles of elementary students.

Canadian Journal of Public Health ; vol. 93, no. 5 ; p. 366-367.

http://www.cpha.ca/shared/cjph/archives/abstr02.htm#5:366-67

[2] Lilya, D. (2001). Analysis and Risk Assessment of Organic

Chemical Migration from Reused PET Plastic Bottles. MSc Thesis

Environmental Engineering, University of Idaho - Environmental

Science Program.

http://www.riskworld.com/Abstract/2001/SRAam01/ab01aa189.htm

(abstract)

[3]Wegelin, M. ... [et al.] (2000). Does sunlight change the material

and content of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles?. Aqua ; vol,

50 ; p. 125-135. http://www.sodis.ch/files/aqua00.pdf [PDF file, 8.1

MB]

Contact:

Prof. M. Cathryn , Univ. of Calgary, ryan@...,

http://www.geo.ucalgary.ca/ryan.htm ; Prof. Margrit von Braun,

University of Idaho - Environmental Science Program, envs@...,

http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/envs/faculty.htm

Source:

C-Health, 26 Jan 2003

Keywords:

Diseases and disease control

Water quality, water treatment

Entry date: 10 Feb 2003

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