According to scientists the ridges and tiny cracks in plastic bottles are a breeding ground for bacteria and can harbour dangerous germs, such as the norovirus.
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With most of us rinsing rather than washing properly, they continue to multiply.
One study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, took 76 samples of water bottles used by school students. Nearly two-thirds of the samples had bacterial levels that exceeded that of drinking water guidelines, which may have been the result of “the effect of bacterial regrowth in bottles that have remained at room temperature for an extended period.
Another study, carried out by KLTV news, examined water bottles which had been reused for just a WEEK and took samples from the neck.
Richard Wallace, M.D., of the University of Texas Health Center, told KLTV: “All of those grew lots and lots of bacteria that could make you very sick almost like having food poisoning,
“That can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Basically the worst vomiting you have ever had in your life.”
What if I wash it?
Washing with a mild soapy water can keep the bacteria at bay for a while but the bottles are difficult to clean properly and the germs can still build up.
Also, frequent usage and washing will cause breakdown of the plastic, especially if washed at too high a heat.
Scott Belcher, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati: “Heating will certainly increase the rate at which chemicals can migrate from the plastic,”
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