"If you left it in a car for weeks at a time, then there's a small chance that some chemicals like BPA could leach into the water, but it's a very small probability," Williams said. The larger risk comes when people drink from a bottle, leave it in a hot car and then drink it again, Williams said.
“The ignition temperatures of those items are about 400 degrees, so it would take some time to achieve that, and you need low humidity, dry heat, but it is possible that it would start a fire,” Symonds said. Experts say it's better to keep bottled water in a car inside a cooler or the trunk.
Drinking bottled water left in a hot car is generally considered unsafe. What is this? Even after a few hours, the heat will cause a plastic water bottle to break down, causing chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), which have adverse health effects, to contaminate the water.
“The hotter it gets, the more the stuff in plastic can move into food or drinking water.” Drinking from a single water bottle left in the hot sun won't hurt you, but experts say consumers should avoid persistant exposure to plastic containers left in extreme heat.
Only one in 20 had trace amounts of BPA, which is a chemical often used to make certain plastics. According to the Mayo Clinic, BPA is not harmful in small doses. So, we can verify bottled water is not dangerous to drink if left in a hot car for a few days.
The water left overnight or for a long period of time in an open glass or container is home to numerous bacterias and is not safe for drinking. You never know how much dust, debris, and other small microscopic particles might have passed into that glass. Water left in a bottle for a long time is not safe to drink.
The safety of bottled water in the sun is quite stable for shorter periods. The 2014 study found over four weeks that as exposure lengthens, chemicals increase but level out before they become unsafe. The one location your plastic water bottle should avoid sitting for long is inside a hot car.
Higher temperature at 70 °C induced significant release of Sb and BPA.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the safety of bottled water, including the packaging, the group noted. As with any food product, bottled water should be stored in a cool dry place, away from household solvents, fuels and other chemicals, and away from direct sunlight, it added.
Unopened bottled water can last up to two years. Opened water bottles, however, can last a few weeks. Pure tap water usually expires after six months from the time it gets packaged.
All in all, water in plastic bottles should be safe to drink, and no less so than water in metal bottles or any other type of container. If they have contaminants in them, they are likely to be found at tiny concentrations.
Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. It can also affect children's behavior. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
IBWA advises consumers to store bottled water at room temperature or cooler, out of direct sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals such as gasoline, paint thinners, household cleaners, and dry cleaning chemicals.
Antimony can be leached from water bottles made of PET plastics. The rate of leaching is low at a storage temperature of 25°C. However, at temperatures of 50°C and above, antimony release can occur very rapidly.
This table indicates that polyethylene (HD/LD not specified) "melts at" 135°C, decomposes in the range 335-450°C, and produces vapors that will ignite between 341-357°C.
Plastic water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate. Whenever a bottle is heated, the material releases the chemicals bisphenol and antimony, also known as BPA. There have been studies to suggest that this chemical can cause adverse health effects in children.
Since water is a natural substance, it has an indefinite shelf life. The Food and Drug Administration, which regulates the bottled water industry, does not require a shelf life for bottled water. That means if bottled water is appropriately stored, it fits for an indefinite amount of time.
The most reliable way to check whether an item is BPA-free is to consult the plastic identification code number — usually stamped on the bottom of the container. There are seven categories, where numbers 1 to 6 are free of BPA. This means that only those printed with the number 7 will contain the chemical.
If needed, open water bottles should be stored in the fridge to slow bacterial growth. According to the shelf-life gurus at Still Tasty, a continuously refrigerated bottle of water can maintain quality for four to six days after opening.
The downside to commercially stored water is that it's generally only available in small quantities and in containers that aren't the most durable. While storing some commercially bottled water is a great idea, enhance your water storage with a few larger storage containers.
The safest plastic containers to hold water are polyethylene-based plastics, or plastics #1, #2, and #4. All food-grade plastics are made of High-density polyethylene (HDPE) #2.
A 2015 review found evidence that BPA can interfere with endocrine function involving the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The researchers suggest that this type of action can affect puberty and ovulation and may lead to infertility. They add that the impact may be “lifelong and transgenerational.”
What is Australia doing about BPA? In 2010, the Australian Government announced a voluntary phase out of BPA use in polycarbonate baby bottles. Read more about this on our website. A survey of BPA in Australian food was undertaken in Phase 2 of the 24th Australian Total Diet Study (ATDS), published in January 2016.
Scientific research shows that in humans BPA is quickly metabolized in the intestines and liver and is quickly eliminated from the body. It does not accumulate in blood or tissues.
Polypropylene (PP, or plastic #5) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE, or plastic #4) make up the majority of Tupperware. These plastics are considered safe for use with food products.