As the weather gets hotter, it is common to see people using old beverage bottles and mineral water bottles to hold tea. Some consumers even justify this as "environmentally friendly" and "economical". However, Dong Jinshi, Vice Chairman of the Plastic Recycling Committee of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, recently warned against reusing plastic bottles repeatedly, as high-temperature water and acidic solutions can easily leach harmful substances from the interior, which can damage human health.
Earlier, an article titled "Reusing Mineral Water Bottles Causes Cancer" circulated widely on major forums and health columns. The article claimed, "A 12-year-old girl in Dubai got cancer after using the same mineral water bottle for 16 consecutive months." It also stated that general mineral water bottles are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic, "The bottle is safe for one-time use, but if reused, it poses a cancer risk."
In daily life, reporters have found that the practice of reusing beverage and mineral water bottles is very common. Many consumers like to keep used beverage and mineral water bottles to refill with tea or water for their next outing, and proudly claim this behavior as "environmentally friendly" and "thrifty". However, is such "environmentally friendly" behavior safe? Recently, Dong Jinshi, Vice Chairman of the Plastic Recycling Committee of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, stated in an interview with reporters that qualified beverage and mineral water bottles must be made of food-grade plastic, namely PET bottles. These food-grade PET bottles are not heat-resistant and need to be used at low temperatures; generally, they are safe for use below 70°C. In addition, these plastic bottles are for single use only, and national regulations prohibit companies from recycling and refilling them for reuse.
"For consumers, it is not advisable to repeatedly reuse mineral water or beverage bottles," the expert explained. PET contains trace amounts of catalysts. Some people like to pour hot water into the bottles, and high temperatures can leach harmful substances from the plastic into the water. At the same time, acidic liquids can also easily leach harmful substances from the plastic. If the pH of the water or tea that consumers fill is unstable, it may also bring out these harmful substances. Furthermore, reusing mineral water or beverage bottles does not meet hygiene standards. Companies subject the bottles to strict disinfection, cleaning, and sterilization procedures during the initial filling. When consumers reuse the bottles, they do not go through these hygiene procedures, and bacteria can multiply repeatedly in the bottles, which is unhygienic and unsafe for excessive human intake.
Jiang Zhuoqin, a professor and director of the Department of Nutrition at the School of Public Health of Sun Yat-sen University, also pointed out that plastic bottles contain plasticizers added during the manufacturing process, and this chemical substance is toxic to the human body. If plastic bottles are used for a long time to hold substances like drinking water, oil, or alcohol, harmful substances can easily be leached from the interior and then introduced into the human body. He suggested that using bottles made of materials like glass or stainless steel to hold food is relatively safer.