Is Drinking Out Of Plastic Bad?

Are You Drinking Dangerous Plastic Particles?

Have you ever really considered the plastic bottle or container your beverage comes in? That single-use plastic may seem convenient, but you could be ingesting harmful microplastics that damage your health and the environment.

The Microplastics Lurking in Your Drinks

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles under 5mm in size that shed from products like water bottles, food containers, plastic bags and more as they break down over time. Alarmingly, these microscopic plastic bits have been found in foods, beverages, and even inside the human body.

A 2023 study shockingly uncovered 250,000 nanoplastics (plastics under 1mm) in just 1 litre of bottled water. Another study revealed microplastics present in 82% of baby bottles globally. Researchers are now identifying microplastics in human blood, breast milk, lung tissue and more.

How Plastic Could Be Harming Your Health

While more research is still underway, early studies link microplastic exposure to inflammation, hormone disruption, and potentially higher risks of certain cancers like colorectal cancer. Microplastics may degrade the gut's protective mucus lining, exposing your cells to carcinogens.

In fact, one 2021 study found people with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's had far higher microplastic levels compared to healthy individuals. Those with more severe disease showed even greater plastic accumulation.

The Environmental Cost You Pay

Beyond potential health risks, single-use plastic manufacturing devastates the environment. In the UK alone, 14 billion plastic bottles get used annually - equating to 38 million per day largely ending up in landfills and oceans.

Plastic recycling only goes so far, with just 16% actually recycled versus 76% of aluminium. The rest lingers in landfills for centuries or pollutes natural habitats.

How to Avoid Drinking Microplastics

With plastic production at such massive scales and evidence of risks mounting, it's time to rethink your beverage packaging choices. Wherever possible:

• Use reusable bottles (aluminium, glass, etc.)
• Choose beverages in aluminium cans/bottles which are infinitely recyclable
• Heat food on ceramic plates instead of plastic containers

At GUNNA, we've taken a stand by using infinitely recyclable aluminum bottles and cans that avoid plastic completely. Making the swap to sustainable packaging is an easy way to reduce your microplastic consumption.

The early evidence is clear - drinking from single-use plastics exposes you to health risks from microplastics and harms the planet through plastic waste. By being more conscious of your beverage packaging, you can reduce your exposure and environmental impact. When buying bottled drinks, choose aluminium or glass over plastic to stay properly hydrated without any harmful plastic particles.