Keeping plastic water bottles in a hot car can be bad for your health. Experts say the heat can cause harmful tiny plastic bits (called microplastics) and a chemical called BPA to get into the water. Why is bottled water in a hot car bad?
- Microplastics: These tiny plastic pieces can cause problems with your hormones, make it harder to have babies, and might even increase the risk of cancer. One expert said that within just one hour in a hot car, lots of these microplastics can get into your water.
- BPA: This chemical is sometimes used to make plastic. Heat makes it leak into the water much faster. BPA can also mess with your hormones, your thyroid, and could lead to cancer.
Even if a bottle says “BPA-free,” it’s still risky.
Also Read: Tiny Black Dots on Your Windshield? They’re There for a Reason
Germs also grow!
Once you open a plastic water bottle and leave it in a hot car, it becomes a place where harmful germs can grow very quickly. Germs love warm temperatures.
What should you do?
- Avoid plastic bottled water in a hot car.
- Use glass or stainless steel bottles instead. These are safer in high temperatures.
- Keep your reusable bottles clean with hot, soapy water.
- If you drink from a bottle, finish it within two hours.
- Use filtered water to fill your bottles.
In simple terms: Hot cars + plastic water bottles = not a good idea for your health. Choose safer bottles and drink your water quickly!
