In Spain, many people prefer drinking bottled water, either due to taste preferences or because they live in areas where municipal tap water is not easily accessible. Some believe that the tap water in Spain is not healthy, although this is generally a misconception.
Tap water quality in Spain is subject to strict European Union regulations, ensuring its safety. However, the perception of taste and concerns about hardness, especially in areas with high mineral content, lead many to opt for bottled water despite its environmental impact.
Health risks from plastic components in bottled water?
Recent social media posts and articles have claimed that scientists are urging people to stop drinking bottled water immediately due to health risks from plastic components. However, experts clarify there is no immediate threat. A recent study by researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar, published in BMJ Global Health, did not make this urgent recommendation.
“Effects neither acute nor immediate”
According to the Spanish fact-check website Newtral, the study only acknowledges that plastic elements, such as microplastics and bisphenol A (BPA), can migrate into the water from the bottle. According to Ethel Eljarrat, a chemical researcher from the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Studies (IDAEA-CSIC) in Barcelona, while these substances are present, their effects are neither acute nor immediate. Eljarrat notes that both bottled and tap water contain microplastics. However, tap water typically has fewer contaminants and undergoes stricter monitoring.
Environmental impact of bottled water
The real concern highlighted in the study is the environmental impact of bottled water. The production and disposal of plastic bottles contribute significantly to pollution. Plastic waste eventually makes its way into rivers, oceans, and even back into human bodies. Eljarrat stresses that bottled water contributes to the growing issue of plastic waste, as it’s a single-use product that generates significant environmental damage.
Production of plastic bottles involves high emissions
Moreover, the production of plastic bottles involves high emissions of greenhouse gases, further harming the environment. For these reasons, both the study’s authors and environmental researchers like Eljarrat recommend tap water as a safer and more sustainable alternative, especially in regions where potable tap water is readily available.
Also read: Is tap water in Spain safe to drink?