Jun 25, 2024 12:00:00

Study reveals that bottled water exposed to sunlight contains harmful volatile organic compounds

PET bottles are used in many aspects of daily life due to their convenience, such as being 'easy to mass-produce.' However, a study conducted by a research team from the Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health at Jinan University has shown that PET bottles exposed to sunlight and ultraviolet rays emit harmful

volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene, benzene, and fluorocarbons.

Characterizing the photodegradation-induced release of volatile organic compounds from bottled water containers - ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772985024000061

Are Plastic Water Bottles Safe? New Study Sparks Concern Over VOCs

https://scitechdaily.com/are-plastic-water-bottles-safe-new-study-sparks-concern-over-vocs/

A research team led by Huaxu Wu of the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health at Jinan University divided the bottles into two types: one filled with water and one without, and exposed each to either an ultraviolet lamp or sunlight.

We then analyzed the PET bottles and the water contained within using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer .

The analysis revealed that all the bottles in the experiment emitted a complex mixture of

alkanes , alcohols, aldehydes and acids, as well as highly toxic VOCs, including carcinogens such as n-hexadecane .

'Our findings provide compelling evidence that exposure to sunlight can cause plastic bottles to degrade and release VOCs that pose health risks,' said Wu. 'Consumers should be aware of these risks when bottled water is exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time.'

On the other hand, the total amount of VOCs released from the plastic bottles exposed to sunlight for seven days was between 0.11 nanograms and 0.79 nanograms. The research team noted, 'VOC volatilization from individual containers is negligible. Even if water containing volatilized VOCs is consumed after prolonged exposure to light, the health risk is manageable.'

'Understanding the conditions under which VOCs are released could lead to improved practices and materials in the manufacture of bottled water containers. Furthermore, there is a need for greater consumer awareness and stronger industry regulation to reduce exposure to these potentially harmful compounds,' the foreign media outlet ScitechDaily argued.