While working out at the gym the other day, I received some alarming information. I had just started refilling my plastic water bottle, as I often do, when somebody behind me said, “You know, that might not be safe.”
I asked him what he meant, and he told me that plastic bottles are not safe to re-use because they leach harmful chemicals into the water. Apparently, studies have demonstrated that these chemicals can increase risk of cancer, suppress immune function and disrupt hormones, among other health risks.
I was shocked, as I had never heard this before. I didn’t drink any more from my water bottle, and that night I began researching the subject. I came across all sorts of controversial information regarding the safety of plastic.
I found out that all plastic bottles have a number inside of a triangle near the bottom of the bottle. Many experts claim that while certain numbers may be safe, you should definitely avoid others (even for one time use), as they may be hazardous to health. I recommend checking out these printable PDF guides from IATP.org:
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