Some Things About Plastic Beverage Bottle

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    Plastic Beverage Bottlecontain Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to make plastic hard and transparent. BPA is an endocrine disruptor and has been shown to be harmful to human health. It is closely related to many health problems, including certain types of cancer, neurological diseases, premature puberty in girls, decreased female fertility, premature births, and newborn defects—just to name a few. BPA enters the human body through contact with plastics such as bottled beverages and cleaning products. A large number of these substances have been found in high-risk groups, such as the placenta of pregnant women and developing fetuses. A study conducted last year found that 96% of women in the United States contain BPA.

     

    Bottled beverages also contain phthalates, which are commonly used in the United States to make plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) more flexible. Phthalates are also endocrine-disrupting chemicals and are related to a wide range of developmental and reproductive effects, including reduced sperm count, testicular abnormalities and tumors, and gender development problems. Because trace amounts of phthalates are reported to be present in plastic bottles, the FDA does not regulate or classify phthalates as health hazards. The decision did not take into account the large amount of plastic in the daily lives of American citizens, the fact that the longer the storage time of plastic water bottles, the fact that the concentration of phthalates increases, or the fact that exposure to hot bottled beverages can lead to accelerated leaching is harmful. Plastic chemicals enter the beverage.

    In addition to the negative effects of bisphenol A and phthalates on human health, there are growing concerns about carcinogens and microbial contaminants found in bottled water test samples.


    Bottling plants can also cause problems for people living near them. The extraction of water around the bottling plant involves millions of gallons of water to make the bottles. This usually leads to local water shortages and affects nearby residents, especially farmers who need to provide food for surrounding communities.

     

    Plastic bottle caps are currently not recyclable. Like plastic bags, they usually end up sinking to the bottom of the sea and into the stomachs of animals that mistake them for food. The stomach of an albatross recently discovered on the island of Hawaii was filled with 119 bottle caps.

    Marine life is a victim of this problem every day. Recently, a sperm whale was found on a North American beach. The plastic gallon bottle on the carcass has stuck to its small intestine. The animal's body is filled with plastic materials, including other plastic bottles, bottle caps and plastic bags.


    environmental impact

    Plastic bottles are made from a petroleum product called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and they require large amounts of fossil fuels to manufacture and transport. In the 1970s, the United States was the world's largest oil exporter, but now it is the largest importer. If you fill a plastic bottle with liquid to make it 25% full, this is approximately the amount of oil needed to make the bottle. For disposable items, this is already a lot.

    Recycling plastic bottles is more difficult than you think. Of the large number of plastic bottles consumed all over the world, most are not recycled because only certain types of plastic bottles can be recycled by certain municipalities. They are either stuck in landfills, immersing hazardous chemicals in the ground, or they seep into our streets as rubbish. They can be found on sidewalks, parks, front yards, and rivers, and even if you cut them into small pieces, they still take longer than a person's lifetime to decompose.

    It gets worse. In the case of bottled water, the plastic manufacturing process requires more than two gallons of water to purify each gallon of water.
    In the United States, bottled water and tap water are regulated by different federal agencies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water. Therefore, the law enforcement and monitoring of bottled water and tap water quality do not add up. Due to strict EPA policies, tap water pollution incidents must be reported. Although there have been many bottled water recalls over the years, there are no such regulations for bottled water.

    Who is to blame?
    The United States is the world's largest consumer market for bottled water, followed by Mexico, Brazil and China.

    Bottled water companies and beverage manufacturers work hand in hand to turn losses into profits. Bottled water manufacturers advertise that their products are higher quality, purer, and safer than tap water, despite the fact that the quality standards of tap water are stricter than bottled water. Some brands of bottled water were found to be tap water in disguise.

    Although a number of scientific studies have been conducted on the chemical substances found in bottled beverages, there are still various activities that undermine the research results. The American Chemistry Commission (ACC) still claims that BPA is safe.

    So who is doing what?

    In Germany, bottle recycling is a universal and efficient process throughout the country. Machines or staff in the store take used bottles from customers in exchange for cash. Therefore, the recycling rate has been high, and companies are encouraged to reuse these bottles. Some "new" bottles have dents, indicating the number of times they have been reused.
    In 2009, the town of Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia, voted to ban bottled water out of concerns about the environment and the health of the local community. It is forbidden to sell or distribute bottled water in the town. Instead, drinking fountains and filter drinking fountains have become common facilities in the town.

    In 2010, Canada became the first country to declare BPA as a toxic substance, and the European Union followed closely, banning the use of BPA in baby bottles in 2011. The United States, France, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have taken some measures to restrict the use of BPA in products.

    To reduce garbage in natural wonders earlier this year, the Grand Canyon National Park Service approved a plan to stop selling bottled water within 30 days. There is a water station in the park for visitors to replenish their own water bottles.

    What can we do about it?

    cut back

    There is no need for bottled drinks at all. When going out, whenever possible, you can save resources by drinking with glasses or a water dispenser.
    do research. Don't believe those ads that tell you that bottled water is purer or safer than tap water. If you are worried about your tap water, you can obtain a water quality report for your area and purchase a water filter if necessary.
    Reuse

    Invest in a reusable bottle that does not contain BPA. Carry a refillable BPA-free bottle when you go out and refill it when needed. This guide looks at some options on the market.
    Recycle

    efficient. Find out which plastics your municipality recycles and sort them accordingly.
    But most importantly, reduce. Think about whales and albatross, generally buy less plastic products, especially when you know you can’t recycle them. It may have a greater and positive impact than you think. Not only beverage bottles, but also Plastic Cosmetic Bottles . After all, its production is also made of plastic, so many cosmetic companies should also make certain changes.