Millions of Americans buy bottled water out of concern about chemicals in tap water, but they could actually be harming their health.
According to the International Bottled Water Association, Americans drink about 15 billion gallons of bottled water each year, about 45 gallons per person.
However, recent studies have shown that bottled water may not be as safe as it seems.
Last year, a comprehensive review found that up to three-quarters of bottled water contains harmful microplastics, which leach from packaging into our blood and accumulate in our organs, causing untold damage.
This led researchers to conclude that “tap water is generally safe, economical, convenient and environmentally friendly.”
However, other research has found that up to 100 million Americans could be permanently exposed to chemicals in tap water.
Now, amid the growing body of research, some scientists say definitively that tap water is “generally safe,” better regulated, and contains fewer microplastics than bottled varieties.
Experts warned that bottled water could be full of microplastics, small particles linked to hormonal problems, infertility and cancer.
said Dr. Phoebe Stapleton, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Rutgers University. food and wine: ‘Tap water has gotten a bad reputation with the rise, availability and advertising of bottled water.
“However, tap water has been shown to be a better option.
“It is less expensive, more environmentally friendly (especially when you take into account the production, processing, packaging, distribution and disposal of bottles) and is systematically regulated at the state and federal level.”
Tap water in the US is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Safe Drinking Water Act. This requires public water systems to monitor water quality and provide public reports on findings and potential contaminants.
However, John Rumpler, clean water director and senior attorney at Environment America, told Food & Wine, “There are more standards and regulations for water that comes out of the tap than there are for bottled water.”
Bottled water is regulated by the FDA as a food product. While the agency periodically tests for bacteria and synthetic materials such as microplastics, this is generally done less frequently.
A study published in the journal BMJ Global Health Last year, between 10 and 78 percent were found to be carrying microplastics and contaminants such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA).
They have been shown to accumulate in organs and cause hormonal disruptions, infertility and some forms of cancer.
Furthermore, investigations of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discovered that these microplastics in water bottles leach more than 200,000 fragments per liter into the water.
Although safer than bottled water, tap water is not without risks. Research has found that nearly half of U.S. drinking water samples contain chemicals consistently linked to cancer and heart disease (file image)
The cities depicted on the map are just a few of many that have been identified as having higher concentrations of PFAS in public water supplies and private wells.
However, a report released this week by the nonprofit Silent Spring Institute examined more than 4,800 water sources and found that 27 percent (supplying 97 million Americans) had detectable levels of at least one of the four permanent chemicals.
More formally known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these chemicals do not break down in the environment, causing them to build up in the body and cause conditions such as cancer, thyroid disease, and high cholesterol.
Other study 2023 found PFAS in about 45 percent of U.S. drinking water samples.
To minimize the risk, Rumpler suggests using water filters to remove potential contaminants.
He also noted that bottled water is generally safer than tap water in places where drinking water is not potable.
He said: “This can occur in cases of natural disasters, water emergencies, pollution associated with water pipe breaks, identified contamination or other lack of clean water supply.”