PET and PC are commonly used plastics for bottled water due to their resistance to chemicals, strength, and transparency. However, additives like plasticizers, coloring agents, and heat stabilizers used in plastic production can leach into the water over time, especially under conditions like prolonged storage, high temperatures, and UV exposure. These leached chemicals include endocrine disrupting substances like BPA and phthalates that can impact human health. To minimize chemical leaching, bottled water should be stored at room temperature without sunlight, bottles should not be reused or filled with hot water, and storage time should be reduced.

1. Leaching of chemicals in bottled
water
Corina Konstantinou, MSc
Dr. Konstantinos Makris

2. Learning Objectives
 Demonstrate an understanding
of:
 The basic types of plastics and
their characteristics.
 The factors that can increase the
chemical leaching.
 Understand, communicate and
apply:
 The basic guidelines for the use,
storage and transportation of
bottled water in order to minimize
the chemical leaching into water.
http://mydietcom.c.presscdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/bigstock-water-pouring-into-glass-from-
15034502.jpg

3. Types of plastics
PET or PETE:
Polyethylene
Terephthalate
HDPE: High-
density
Polyethylene
Other (PC)
LDPE: Low-density
Polyethylene
PS:
Polystyrene
PP: Polypropylene
PVC: Polyvinyl
Chloride

4. PET
 The most widely used material
for bottling water
 Resistance to chemicals
 Low gas and water vapour
permeability
 Strength and impact-resistance
 Low weight
 Colourlessness and
transparency
 Easy recycling procedures

5. PC
 High transparency
 High strength
 High heat resistance
 Good electrical insulation
properties
 Biologically inert
 Readily recyclable
 Easy to process
 Widely used in
 tableware (plates, mugs, jugs,
beakers)
 microwave ovenware
 storage containers
 returnable water and milk bottles
 refillable water containers

6. Plasticizers in bottled water
 Causes:
 Water contamination in the
bottling plant
 Indirect contamination during
analytical procedures due to
the wide use of plasticizers.
 Migration of plasticizers from
the bottle material to the
water

7. Additives in plastic bottles
Plasticizers Coloring agents Heat
stabilizers
 Offer broad functionality to polymers
 Not chemically bound to the polymer chains
 Can migrate within the material and leach into water
 More prone to dissolve in the aqueous environment

8. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
 Substances which interfere with the synthesis,
secretion, transport, binding, action or elimination
of natural hormones in the body
 Can affect development, behaviour, fertility and
homeostasis (normal cell metabolism)
 BPA, phthalates, alkylphenols etc.

9. Migration of plasticizers
 Increases under specific conditions/parameters
Need to avoid these conditions
Minimization of chemicals leaching into bottled water

10. Factors affecting chemical leaching
 Temperature
 Prolonged storage
 Frequency of reuse
 Polymer age
 Carbon dioxide
 UV-exposure
 Bottle volume
 Bottle material

11. Basic Guidelines
for minimization of chemical leaching
 Storage and transportation of bottled water
 Under room temperature conditions (20-22ºC)
 Without sunlight exposure

12.  Minimization of:
 Prolonged storage of bottled water
 Reusing plastic bottles
 Filling hot water/tap water into plastic
bottles
Basic Guidelines
for minimization of chemical leaching