Drinking from Plastic Bottles May Raise Blood Pressure, Study Finds

According to research, the impact of plastic on human health is critical, and may significantly impair your body's functioning.

Researchers from the Department of Medicine at Danube University Krems in Austria examined the effects of drinking from plastic bottles and found that avoiding plastic use for two weeks may help lower blood pressure.

The researchers asked eight healthy adult participants to stop drinking from plastic bottles and switch to tap water for 28 to 30 days. They measured blood pressure before and after the experiment, as well as every two weeks and at the end of the month.

Women showed a more noticeable change in blood pressure than men. However, after two weeks, a significant impact was observed in both genders.

Blood pressure is also influenced by other factors such as physical fitness, diet, age, and more. “To confirm this claim, a larger sample of men and women is needed, along with monitoring of plastic particle concentrations in the blood,” the paper states. “Reducing oral intake of plastic particles may lower health risks, and these findings highlight the importance of limiting plastic use to prevent negative health effects. They also point to the need for more comprehensive research on the link between plastic exposure and cardiovascular health.”

It’s important to consider the statistics: in recent decades, the number of people suffering from high blood pressure has doubled, and today, over one billion people are affected. According to the World Health Organization, high blood pressure is responsible for 7.5 million deaths each year. Once considered a condition of wealthy Western nations, it has now spread to poorer countries, including those in Africa.