What are the dangers of using bottles made of non-food grade materials？

Drinking water is an essential daily necessity in our lives. In daily life,we often use a variety of water bottles for drinking water and other beverages. However, if we don’t pay attention to the material and quality of water bottles, it may cause potential harm to our health and the environment. In particular, the use of non-food-grade water bottles or water bottles containing BPA may bring a series of problems.

I. What are the hazards of non-food grade materials?

First of all, there may be food safety issues associated with the use of non-food grade water bottles. Some low-quality water bottles may contain hazardous substances, such as heavy metals and plasticizers, which can leach into the bottles and cause harm to health. For example, heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can cause chronic poisoning to the body, while plasticizers can disrupt the endocrine system, affecting the human reproductive system, immune system and nervous system.

Non-food grade materials include, but are not limited to the following:

1. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): PVC is a common plastic material used in the manufacture of water bottles, plastic bags, plastic bottles, and so on. However, PVC contains plasticizers and stabilizers that may leach into water bottles and cause harm. For example, DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), a plasticizer commonly used in PVC, can affect the male reproductive system and lead to reduced fertility.

2. PS (Polystyrene): PS is a common plastic material used in the manufacture of thermos bottles, cutlery, etc.. However, PS may release harmful substances, such as benzene and toluene, which can be harmful to the body. For example, benzene is a carcinogen and long-term exposure may lead to diseases such as leukemia.

3. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): ABS is a common plastic material used in the manufacture of mugs, toys, etc. However, styrene and acrylonitrile contained in ABS may leach into water bottles and cause harm to humans. For example, styrene can affect the human nervous system, while acrylonitrile may cause skin sensitization and respiratory tract irritation.

4.201 stainless steel has low nickel content and high carbon content, and it is said to be stainless steel, but actually it is stainless steel that will rust. If 201 stainless steel does not rust, the use of the body will be a lot less harmful, but rust produced by iron oxide fused to the water by people drinking for a long time, will cause great harm to the body, the greatest harm is the liver, followed by the blood.

These non-food grade materials may release hazardous substances that are harmful to our health. For example, the plasticizers and stabilizers in PVC may disrupt the endocrine system and affect the human reproductive system, immune system, nervous system, etc.; benzene in PS may cause leukemia and other diseases; styrene and acrylonitrile in ABS may affect the human nervous system and respiratory tract. Therefore, we should try to avoid using water bottles made of these non-food-grade materials and choose food-grade materials to ensure the safety and health of drinking water.

II. Why should we use BPA-free water bottles?

BPA is a chemical widely used in plastic products, also known as bisphenol A (Bisphenol A). It is mainly used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, which are widely used in the manufacture of bottles, food packaging, toys and so on.

The harm of BPA is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Affects the endocrine system: BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can interfere with the normal function of the human endocrine system, leading to an imbalance in hormone levels. This may affect the reproductive system, the immune system, the nervous system, etc. and cause harm to health.

2. Effects on children and fetuses: BPA may affect the development of children and fetuses. Studies have found that BPA may cause behavioral and cognitive problems in children, such as ADHD and learning disabilities. Meanwhile, long-term exposure of pregnant women to BPA may lead to abnormal fetal development, such as preterm labor and low birth weight.

3. Increased risk of disease: BPA may increase the risk of certain diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Studies have found that long-term exposure to BPA may lead to problems such as elevated blood pressure and abnormal blood sugar, increasing the risk of disease.

Therefore, we should try to avoid using plastic products containing BPA and choose BPA-free materials such as glass and stainless steel. If we must use plastic products containing BPA, we should avoid heating, microwaving and other operations to minimize the release of BPA.

III. How to prevent the hazards associated with non-food grade materials?

1. Choose food-grade water bottles: When buying water bottles, we should choose food-grade materials, such as glass, stainless steel, etc., and avoid using water bottles made of plastic.

2. Avoid using BPA-containing bottles: When purchasing bottles, choose BPA-free materials.

3. Regular replacement of water bottles: After a period of time, water bottles should be replaced regularly to avoid the aging and deformation of water bottles caused by long-term use.

4. Pay attention to cleaning and maintenance: Regular cleaning and maintenance of water bottles, to avoid limescale, odor and other problems, to ensure that the water bottle of health.

In summary, choosing a safe water bottle is very important for our health and the environment. When purchasing, we should choose food-grade materials, avoid the use of BPA-containing water bottles, and regularly replace and maintain water bottles, which can effectively prevent potential health and environmental hazards.