Bottled water may be convenient – but here’s what it’s doing to your health
Bottled water or tap water? Here’s what the science says
- Marketing portrays bottled water as purer and healthier, but scientific studies indicate it can contain contaminants like bacteria, microplastics, and leached chemicals, posing potential health risks.
- In most developed countries, tap water is subject to stricter legal and testing standards, with daily monitoring for contaminants, unlike bottled water, which is regulated as a packaged food product and tested less frequently.
- Plastic bottles can leach endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as antimony, phthalates, and bisphenol analogues, particularly when exposed to warmth, with potential long-term health implications currently under research.
- The environmental impact of bottled water is significant, with global consumption leading to vast plastic waste, high energy usage (up to 2,000 times more than tap water), and a larger carbon footprint.
- While essential in emergencies, bottled water is generally not safer or cleaner than tap water in developed nations, highlighting the importance of understanding these differences amid growing global water stress.