“Sheryl Crow claims she got cancer from drinking water out of plastic water bottles she left in her car. Do those bottles really release toxins like that?”
I am not a chemist so rather than try to address the specifics of this myth, I would encourage you to think about this with an open mind and then make your own decision.
“The bottom line is this: Your bottled water spends far more time in hot, humid conditions than you may realize. Leaving it in your car for a couple of hours should be the least of your worries.”
First, I can find no credible report in which Ms. Crow blames her cancer on plastic water bottles. This story, in which Ms. Crow claims that her cancer resulted from toxins leached out of plastic water bottles left in her car during the hot summer months, has been circulating via the internet since at least early 2007 but no one has been able to trace it to a specific source. And this is typical of these types of internet scams. Remember a few years ago when another email claimed that feminine hygiene products contained asbestos? This is likely the same kind of fear-mongering that made that story so popular.
Also, look at the amount of time your bottle of water really spends in your hot car. How long does it really spend there? A few hours? Let’s put that into perspective. That bottle of water has also spend days—if not weeks—in hot conditions. First it spent time in the bottler’s warehouse waiting to be picked up. Then it was trucked in an un-refrigerated trailer for a few days. Next, it spent at least a little bit of time in a distribution center. Finally, it probably spent some time in your grocer’s storage area.
Now, given all the time your bottle of water spent traveling in hot, humid conditions, are you really all that worried about leaving your bottle of water in your car for a couple of hours?
The Bottom Line On Toxins, Sheryl Crow & Bottled Water
The bottom line is this: If the idea of plastic bottles turns you off, just avoid them. Invest in a stainless steel water bottle, which you should be able to find at any large “natural” grocery store, and refill it as needed. But don’t let someone preying on the tragedy that befell Sheryl Crow scare you into avoiding drinking water.
It’s your health. If you have any questions about the safety of your bottled water, or you would like the truth about potential toxins in plastic bottles, talk to your doctor for the accurate information that’s appropriate for you.
