Experts warn that bottled water, often marketed as safer than tap, exposes users to harmful chemicals and contributes heavily to plastic pollution.
Tom Howarth reports for Newsweek.
In short:
- Bottled water often contains contaminants, including microplastics and chemicals like BPA, which can pose serious health risks.
- The production and disposal of plastic bottles contribute significantly to pollution, with only 9% being recycled.
- Researchers argue that governments must improve tap water infrastructure to reduce dependency on bottled water.
Key quote:
“The widespread use of bottled water contributes significantly to pollution; it exposes people to potentially harmful contaminants and also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.”
— Amit Abraham, lead author
Why this matters:
Plastic pollution from bottled water harms ecosystems and disproportionately affects low-income communities. Reducing bottled water use could improve public health and lessen environmental damage.
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