Health
Bottled water side effects may include:
- benzene ingestion, a human carcinogen which is bad for blood
- BPA exposure which can create fertility issues, altered brain development, cancer, and heart complications
- phthalates ingestion, which linked to an increased risk of cancer
- microplastic ingestion
- gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, neurological disorders
Bottled water health benefits may include:
- hydration
- better digestion
- reduce exposure to harmful toxins sometimes present in tap water
- clear skin complexion
- weight loss
Bottled water is…
- Acidic pH level once digested, unless specified alkaline
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
Environment
Water footprint: unknown
Carbon footprint: likely high, especially considering the manufacturing and transportation of bottled water is often unnecessary to access irrigated clean drinking water
Destruction: high, single use plastic water bottle manufacturing, waste and improper disposal is one of the leading causes of plastic pollution, the thin plastic material doesn’t decompose well and breaks into microplastic which is environmentally problematic and contaminates soil, water systems, etc. microplastics are highly disruptive and deadly to ecosystems and wildlife
Bottled water is…
- Unsustainable *mostly due to plastic packaging
Animals
Kills: none, bottled water production does not require any animals
Harms: none, bottled water production does not require any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: ecosystems and wildlife, bottled water production microplastics harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil and water, wildlife (birds, fish, reptiles, etc.) animals often and unintentionally ingest microplastics which do not digest, accumulate in their bodies, resulting in their death
Bottled water is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems due to plastic packaging
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers often experience exploitation, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Bottled water…
- May have labor issues
bottled water is acidic.
Is bottled water alkaline or acidic?
Bottled water is acidic.
What is the pH level of bottled water?
Bottled water has a 5.5 pH level, once digested.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
bottled water is gluten free.
Is bottled water gluten free?
Yes, bottled water is gluten free. Bottled water does not contain gluten.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
bottled water is not a common food allergen.
Is bottled water a common food allergen?
No, bottled water is not a common food allergen.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
bottled water likely has a high carbon footprint.
Does bottled water have a high or low carbon footprint?
Bottled water likely has a high carbon footprint compared to alternatives. Plastic production and transportation requirements involved in bottled water consumption far outweigh the carbon footprint generated by opting for tap water or buying a home water filtration system.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
bottled water is unsustainable.
Overall, is bottled water eco friendly and sustainable?
Bottled water production is relatively unsustainable.
Single use plastic water bottle manufacturing, waste and improper disposal is one of the leading causes of plastic pollution. The thin plastic material doesn’t decompose well and breaks into microplastic. This is environmentally problematic and contaminates soil, water systems and more. Microplastics are highly disruptive and deadly to ecosystems and wildlife
bottled water is vegan but harmful to wildlife and ecosystems.
Is bottled water vegan? Yes, bottled water is vegan. Bottled water is not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
bottled water may have labor issues and human rights concerns.
Is bottled water a product with laborer issues?
At this time, there are no known specific reports of worker mistreatment regarding bottled water production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can face harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Sources:
CDC: Commercially Bottled Water
Harvard, The Nutrition Source, Water
Water: An Important Part of a Healthy Winter Diet – USDA ARS
Ground Water and Drinking Water | US EPA
