A new study found that bottled water left out in the open to warm up is unsafe to drink.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Florida. Plastic bottles containing water are made from polyethylene terephthalate. When the bottle is heated, it releases chemicals antimony and bisphenol A, commonly called BPA.
"If you store the water long enough, there may be a concern," said Lena Ma, an Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faculty member who has a research program at Nanjing University in China, in a press statement. "More attention should be given to other drinks packaged with polyethylene terephthalate plastic, such as milk, coffee and acidic juice. We only tested the pure water. If it is acidic juice, the story may be different."
The chemicals are harmful for children and antomony is carcinogenic.
BPA is a chemical commonly found in plastic and epoxy resins. Common exposure to this chemical is through water bottles, cups, compact discs, food cans, and impact-resistant material. Previous studies have linked BPA to problems with reproductive development, early puberty, obesity and cancers.
A study conducted on monkeys in September 2012 found that BPA can lead to birth defects and it shortens reproductive lifespan.
The large number of health hazards caused due to BPA has compelled the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take steps to reduce human exposure to the chemical in the food supply. In July last year, the FDA released a regulation that banned the use of BPA in coatings of infant formula packaging.
Visit this website to read up on the health issues caused due to exposure to BPA. Findings of the current study were published in this month's edition of the journal Environmental Pollution.
