The global pandemic had added further push to the fight against climate change, with governments around the world adopting the green revolution.
At a personal level, it could be hard to understand how one can make a difference but recycling is a crucial.
Using reusable bottles is a small step towards saving the oceans. However, many can have secret health risks.
While speaking to Express, Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at healthcare body Benenden Health, said most plastic bottles we use daily are made of polycarbonate plastics.
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Polycarbonate plastics have been manufactured since the 1950s with an industrial chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA)
noted Lythgoe.
Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food and drinks
she warned.
According to the expert, the health risks accompanied by this industrial chemical double as the contents of the bottles get hotter.
This can affect cell repair, hair growth, energy levels and reproduction, she warned.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the chemical can also affect children’s behaviour.
Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
warns the health body.
According to the specialist, you can decrease the risks by choosing a different type of reusable bottle.
Stay hydrated but make sure that hot drinks are from cups made of pottery, glass, or stainless steel and consider using a stainless-steel water bottle for those on the go drinks.
If you’re worried about BPA, there are other steps you can follow to reduce your exposure.
Don’t put plastic containers in the microwave or dishwasher, because the heat may break them down over time and allow BPA to leach into foods
warns the Mayo Clinic.
It is also important to look for products labelled as BPA-free, notes the health body.
You should also cut back on cans and reduce your use of canned foods, it adds.
The primary source of exposure to BPA for most people is through the diet.
“While air, dust, and water are other possible sources of exposure, BPA in food and beverages accounts for the majority of daily human exposure,” explains the health body.
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According to experts, the degree to which BPA leaches from polycarbonate bottles into liquid may depend more on the temperature of the liquid or bottle, than the age of the container.
“BPA can also be found in breast milk,” it adds.
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