So little benefit, so many problems
By BMJ Group
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Some 2 billion people around the world with limited or no
access to safe drinking water rely on bottled water. But for the rest of us,
it’s largely a matter of convenience and the unshaken belief—aided and abetted
by industry marketing—that bottled water is safer and often healthier than tap
water.
Health Risks From Bottled Water
It isn’t, insist the authors from Weill Cornell Medicine in
Qatar.
That’s because bottled water often isn’t subject to the same
rigorous quality and safety standards as tap water, and it can carry the risk
of harmful chemicals leaching from the plastic bottles used for it, especially
if it’s stored for a long time, and/or exposed to sunlight and high
temperatures, they explain.
Between an estimated 10% and 78% of bottled water samples
contain contaminants, including microplastics, often classified as hormone
(endocrine) disruptors, and various other substances including phthalates (used
to make plastics more durable) and bisphenol A (BPA).
Microplastic contamination is associated with oxidative
stress, immune system dysregulation, and changes in blood fat levels. And BPA
exposure has been linked to later-life health issues, such as high blood
pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity, they add.
“While there are short-term safety thresholds, the long-term effects of these contaminants remain largely unknown,” observes the author, adding that microplastics can also enter the food chain.
Tap water is also a greener option. Plastic bottles make up
the second most common ocean pollutant, accounting for 12% of all plastic
waste. Globally, just 9% of these bottles are recycled, meaning that most end
up in landfills or incinerators, or are ‘exported’ to low and middle-income
countries, to deal with, begging the question of social justice, they say.
Apart from the waste generated, the process of extracting
the raw materials and manufacturing plastic bottles significantly contributes
to greenhouse gas emissions, they add.
Call for Action on Water Consumption
While some efforts have been made to facilitate the use of
drinking water in restaurants and public spaces, and to curb the prevalence of
single-use plastics, much more needs to be done, argue the authors.
“Collectively, the accumulated evidence underscores the
critical role of government interventions and educational campaigns in shifting
public perception and behavior. These campaigns should highlight the
environmental stewardship and health benefits of choosing tap water,
effectively driving a cultural change towards more sustainable consumption
practices,” they suggest.
Conclusion and Urgent Recommendations
“The reliance on [bottled water] incurs significant health,
financial, and environmental costs, calling for an urgent re-evaluation of its
widespread use,” they conclude. “Governments must urgently confront these
issues,” including those in low and middle-income countries where there is a
pressing need for them to invest in safe drinking water infrastructure, they
add.
“By prioritizing tap water consumption, we can collectively address the multifaceted challenges posed by [bottled water] and embrace tap water as a cornerstone of environmental responsibility and public health,” they suggest.
Reference: “Rethinking bottled water in public health
discourse” by Amit Abraham, Sohaila Cheema, Karima Chaabna, Albert B Lowenfels
and Ravinder Mamtani, 1 August 2024, BMJ Global Health.
DOI:
10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015226