Be cautious about reusing plastic bottles.
Water, sports drinks, sodas and other beverages are sold commercially in plastic bottles, leaving the average consumer with significant water bottle waste. While these bottles can be recycled, many consumers look to reuse their bottles to save money and be more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, it is not always safe to reuse water bottles.
Freezing Water Bottles
Although heating plastic bottles or putting hot contents in plastic bottles can be harmful, since the heat causes chemicals such as dioxin, a toxic substance, to leach from the plastic into the bottle's contents, freezing does not have the same effect. Despite the long-standing rumors that freezing plastic bottles is also dangerous, it turns out that reusing plastic bottles in the freezer is relatively harmless. Chemicals will not be leached from the bottles if they are frozen.
Other Considerations
While freezing bottles is not inherently harmful, the reuse of plastic bottles still carries some dangers. Plastic bottles can carry bacteria. Freezing the bottles will not necessarily kill the bacteria that is living in or on the plastic. To prevent bacteria contamination, thoroughly clean the plastic bottles before reusing or purchase plastic bottles that are intended for reuse. Most plastic bottles that come with beverages are not intended to be reused.
BPA Concerns
A 2008 study by University of Cincinnati found that BPA, a toxic compound found in many plastics, can cause birth defects, harm fertility and adversely affect fetal and child development. Scott Belcher, who led the study, recommends that consumers refrain from putting bottles in the dishwasher, where the heat can cause the BPA to release and contaminate all dishwasher contents. It is recommended that, if you choose to reuse bottles, wash the bottles by hand with cool water.
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