Why you should NEVER drink bottled water after its best before date

"Bottled mineral water usually carries a best before date of around 18 months to two years, but this date doesn't actually refer to the water itself, but the plastic bottle. Within this time, water should maintain its taste and shouldn't degrade in quality, but drinking it after its best before date could place drinkers at an increased risk of ingesting harmful microplastics that have been linked to cases of bowel cancer, brain damage and infertility."

"Recent studies have found microplastics in human lung tissue, placentas, breast milk and even blood, raising concern over how deeply they can penetrate the body. Dr Sherri Mason, a leading research in freshwater plastic pollution working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), said: 'There are connections to increases in certain kinds of cancer to lower sperm count to increases in conditions like ADHD and autism. 'We know that they are connected to these synthetic chemicals in the environment and we know that plastics are providing a kind of means to get those chemicals into our bodies.'"

Bottled mineral water often carries a best-before date of about 18 months to two years that refers to the plastic bottle rather than the water. Within that period water generally retains taste and quality, but bottle degradation can release microplastics into the liquid. Microplastics can measure as small as two micrometres and have been detected in lung tissue, placentas, breast milk, and blood. Associations exist between microplastic exposure and certain cancers, reduced sperm count, neurodevelopmental conditions, neurotoxicity, chronic inflammation, and hormonal and metabolic disruption. Regulatory bodies differ on potential risk and particle behavior in the body.

Read at Mail Online