Left Your Bottle of Water in Your Hot Car? Here’s What You Need to Know

Lots of controversial speeches have been given on the safety of drinking water from a plastic bottle left in a hot temperature. Sadly, most of these speeches have spread across social media in a fashion unfit to determine whether it is true or not. So, is it safe?

According to actual scientific research, bottled waters can contain certain chemicals that may in fact lead to some health concerns. However, plastic bottles are rarely mass produced without the approval of a government body or an association. The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has issued multiple statements clarifying that “the claim that bottled water left in a hot car can be dangerous, most often spread by social media channels, such as Facebook messages or via email chains, is untrue.”

Plastic packaging has to go through multiple committees to be approved for production. Even the most organic or recycled plastics have some forms of contaminants or chemicals, but according to IBWA, doesn’t exceed the limit set for safe drinking water by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Multiple studies have surfaced to show the effects of heated plastic bottles on the safety of the drinking water, but sadly most of them have only detected certain types of plastic that may possible contaminate or poison the water, leaving it unsafe to drink.

**According to doctors and representatives from IBWA, drinking water from a plastic bottle left in a hot car is very much not recommended. Although research suggests it is safe to drink, there is no necessary reason to drink hot water as you are unable to assess the damage done to it. **

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The latest experimental study was done in the University of Florida, where a few students placed 16 brands of bottled water in 158 degrees Fahrenheit for four weeks. All but one of these brands proved safe within the guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical component in polycarbonate plastic, and antimony, are the main focus of studies done to ensure the safety of water from plastic bottle packaging. The Center of Disease Control in Qatar has stated that although it is found often in patient’s urine tests, it is not significantly implying negative health concerns.

Qatar’s Cancer Society has also dismissed allegations that BPA and drinking “hot-weather contaminated” water causes cancer, or breast cancer in particular. However, it is recommended to get a checkup if you sense that something might be wrong, and on a regular basis.

The way the public sees it is that when you leave a bottle of water in hot temperatures, then the water will evaporate causing it to change from a liquid to gas. That may be true. However, remember that water’s compound is H2O, which in fact is not entirely as dangerous as we think.

Some others believe and claim that if the plastic bottles were left in hot temperatures for too long that they would melt away and mix in with the water to contaminate it. Some studies have shown that this may happen. However, the plastic quality, approval, and size may be part of the reason for this. Most bottled waters maintain a high standard of safety guidelines from EPA. Also, the car can’t really become an inferno in whatever period of time you leave it out in the sun. It is unrealistic to believe that it becomes so hot in there to melt away plastic that is highly non-biodegradable.

Understanding the risks associated with dangerous food consumption can help minimize your exposure and your family’s to harmful chemical digestion. Try to always have fresh water with you at all times. Do not use a plastic bottle more than once unless to recycle it. Make sure that your child has a bottle of water for school that does not have as many of the harmful chemicals as the regular shop-bought brands. Make sure to have a cooler or an icebox in your car if you want to keep your bottles o