Plastic water bottles increase risk of type 2 diabetes

A key chemical ingredient used in the manufacturing of plastic bottles leads to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, revealed a study published in the journal Diabetes.

The study found a direct link between plastic bottles and diabetes and disclosed the key chemical BPA used to make food and drink packages, including plastic water bottles, reduces the hormone insulin in the body and leads to an imbalance of sugar.

The findings were presented at a Scientific Session of the American Diabetes Association, stressing the need to review the limits of BPA from the US Environmental Protection Agency (ECP) to eliminate the use of the said chemical in bottles.

However, the study has linked BPA to diabetes, which was not seen in previous research where the administration of this chemical increased the risk of diabetes in adults.

“This finding is the first to provide evidence that BPA administration may increase type 2 diabetes,” said the scientist from California Polytechnic State University in a statement.

Researchers took 40 adults who received a placebo or 50 micrograms of BPA per kg of their body regularly, disclosing that those who were administered BPA were less responsive to insulin after 4 days, while this change was noticed in the placebo group.

Researchers stressed reducing the BPA by using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, which decreases the risk of diabetes. 

Plastic bottles exist across the world but researchers raised concerns about the impact of chemicals used in plastic. 

Another study published in Eco-Environment and Health depicted that plastic bottles could release harmful chemicals in sunlight.