Reusing bottled water increases the risk of 'this cancer'... should be avoided

Do you drink a lot of bottled water?

I also tend to drink bottled water frequently~

Everyone knows that reusing bottled water is not good.

Reusing bottled water bottles...

It is said that they can cause serious health problems, including cancer and developmental disabilities in children.

It’s quite frightening to think that the risk of esophageal and pancreatic cancer could increaseㅠㅠ

Please do not reuse it; if you drink bottled water, please dispose of it~

 

Reusing bottled water bottles is widely known to be unhygienic because it poses a high risk of bacterial exposure. However, scientists have discovered another reason why bottled water bottles should not be reused. It is that reusing them can lead to serious health problems such as cancer or developmental disorders in children.

On the 3rd (local time), foreign media such as the UK Daily Mail reported, citing research results from a research team at Pennsylvania State University, on the risks of reusing plastic bottles and containers.

The research team discovered that heating single-use plastics releases nanoplastics and toxic chemicals, which then leach into food and liquids. Therefore, single-use plastics are designed for one-time use. Such products decompose more easily than sturdy plastics like tumblers.

The research team stated, "Reusing single-use plastic products can lead to exposure to styrene, which may increase the risk of esophageal and pancreatic cancers."

Styrene is an organic chemical industrial raw material widely used in the manufacture of polystyrene, synthetic rubber, and plastics. It is also called styrene monomer (SM) or phenylethylene.

Professor Shelley Mason from Pennsylvania State University compared this effect to the way humans shed skin cells. Professor Shelley said, "Plastic products constantly release tiny particles," and "this is similar to how human skin cells are continuously shed."

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), plastics contain an average of 16,000 chemical substances. Of these, 4,200 are known to be high-risk substances.

Professor Sheri pointed out, "When ordinary people see a plastic bottle of water, they tend to avoid it if they see visible plastic," but emphasized that "the biggest problem is the invisible plastic."

Nanoplastics are so small that they can pass through the digestive system and enter human blood, liver, and brain. These particles can pass through cell membranes and enter the bloodstream.

Professor Sheri warned that reusing plastic for beverages or food could potentially impact our health.

The definite link between nanoparticle intake and cancer has not yet been established.

However, when particles accumulate in human tissues, they can increase chemical toxicity, leading to serious health problems such as cancer or developmental disorders in children.

According to a study by Columbia University in the United States, an average of about 240,000 nano plastic particles are contained in a single plastic water bottle. Therefore, experts recommend using glass or ceramic containers instead of plastic.

 

<Source: Dong-A Ilbo>