You probably think it's a responsible and smart move to put a bottle of water in your car when you go shopping or when you go on a trip. It is sure that it is always important to hydrate regularly, especially during hot days. But apparently, leaving a bottle in your car can put your life in danger!
Certainly, you do not want to lug a bottle of water when you go shopping, or when you're on a ride. But leaving your water bottle in the car could be more dangerous than you can imagine.
How can a bottle of water put your life in danger?
A Facebook group called IdahoPower has recently released a story about a man who has experienced this danger.
A battery technician named Dioni Amuchastegu usually carried plastic water bottles with him to keep water at hand. One day, while sitting in his van during a lunch break, Dioni noticed a smoke in his vehicle from the corner of his eye.
When he turned around to check the situation, he saw that the sun's rays had refracted through his plastic water bottle. The sun on that hot day was so intense that the bottle caused a fire in the passenger seat, just like a magnifying lens that converges the sun's rays, which can cause a fire. So, plastic water bottles can do the same thing. And of course, the fire can spread quickly in other parts of the car.
The video shared by IdahoPower has been viewed thousands of times and shared hundreds of times. Many viewers did not think that a small bottle of water could be such a big threat.
Obviously, the best thing to do is to keep the plastic water bottles out of your car. However, if you do not have time to remove the bottles, make sure they are protected from direct sunlight.
Water bottles can not only cause a fire hazard when left in the car, but they can also become dangerous to your health. Studies over the last few years have shown that when plastic bottles are left in a car for a long time under great heat, harmful chemicals can be released into the water.
A threat to health
A new study from the University of Florida has examined 16 brands of bottled water, and the results could challenge global recommendations regarding levels of bisphenol A (or BPA) in plastic water bottles, due to of its reactivity to heat.
Plastic water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate, a material used for many food and beverage packaging because it is lightweight, durable and unbreakable. However, when heated, it is known to release chemical BPA, which some experts believe can affect hormone levels by mimicking estrogen, and can trigger health risks if exposed to high levels.
While the initial levels of BPA found in the 16 brands, except one, have not exceeded the standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency for these chemicals, scientists are more concerned about how the products Chemicals have increased over time in packaging.
You would have understood it ! to preserve your health, avoid leaving your water bottles in your car.