Drinking water from heated plastic bottles left in vehicles poses serious risks: Health experts warn

Health experts are warning that consuming water from plastic bottles left in hot environments, such as inside cars, may pose serious health risks due to the release of toxic chemicals and microplastics.

According to a report published in the Daily Mail, researchers at China’s Nanjing University found that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles exposed to high temperatures for four weeks released harmful substances, including antimony (a toxic heavy metal) and bisphenol A (BPA), into the water.

Antimony exposure can cause headaches, nausea, and sleep disturbances in the short term, and is linked to lung inflammation and stomach ulcers in the long term. BPA, widely studied for its adverse health effects, has been associated with cancer, fertility issues, cardiovascular disease, and increased risk of early death.

Heat Accelerates Chemical Leakage

Research highlights that heat dramatically accelerates the chemical release process. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that on a 27°C day, the temperature inside a vehicle can climb to 40°C within 20 minutes and reach 59°C within an hour. Experts say such conditions significantly increase the rate at which plastic bottles leach harmful chemicals into drinking water.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Bottled Water

Studies from McGill University in Canada and Columbia University in the U.S. found that bottled water exposed to high temperatures contains microplastic and nanoplastic particles. Columbia researchers reported that a single liter of bottled water can contain an average of 240,000 plastic fragments, small enough to enter the bloodstream and even the brain.

Nanoplastics are of particular concern as they may damage DNA, alter gene activity, and potentially trigger cancer development. Supporting this, a study conducted in Iran found traces of microplastics in all samples of colorectal cancer tissues examined.

Global Call for Urgent Action

Researchers at London-based Deep Science Ventures stressed the wider public health implications, noting that chemical exposure from plastics can have devastating effects on fertility, immune system function, and child development. They issued a strong warning to policymakers, stating:
“Failure to act could lead to irreversible consequences for human health and ecosystems.”

Health authorities advise the public to avoid drinking water from plastic bottles left in hot environments, recommending the use of reusable glass or stainless-steel containers as safer alternatives.