General Chat

David posted ............

"If the latter .......... it isn't true!!! Very recent research has shown that every bottle of water now has hundreds and thousands of tiny plastic bits, that you are ingesting every time you drink

Cause for concern there. Shouldn't there be a warning on the bottle ?"


The research was only published within the last few months, and appeared in our media (TV, radio and paper) soon after.

It was serious research by credible scientists.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01828-w

Of course, microplastics are found in water everywhere, both salt and fresh, so it is in your tap water ............ and probably some of that found in bottled water is from the "naturally sourced" water in the bottles as wll as sloughing off the bottle.

The WHO has said "some concern, but needs more research".

Why wait for that?

In my opinion, plastic bottles should be removed from the market before any more damage is done.

We've all ingested water from those bottles for many years. It's too late for us to do anything about it, except stop using them from now on.

The microscopic particles are already in many of your internal organs, with unknown consequences..

Rose ........

I'm glad to hear that! I've always thought that England, and the est of the UK, had "good" water.

It was a shock when we first came over here to discover signs at the entry into villages and small towns that basically said that the water in that place was not tested and care should be taken (I forget the actual phrasing now, after over 50 years), but it meant "Do not drink the water".

And we saw that in time and time again in the US. Places with water that should not be drunk are also here in Canada, but they don't usually have those signs these days. You can usually tell ........... if the motel or hotel where you are staying gives you complementary water in your room, don't use the tap water to drink or clean your teeth!!!

I now take either my stainless steel water bottle that keeps liquids cold (or hot) for 12 or more hours, or one of my travel mugs, with me whenever I go out. Sure, either of them is heavier than a plastic bottle, but it saves money, and is much better for the environment. I still have a couple of small plastic bottles in the fridge, bought and re-used time and time again, just in case.

As I said before, it's really only when we travel to certain areas that I'm forced to buy plastic.


I have trouble with all kinds of pulls, hate those "keys" that are used for some cans. I usually resort to using my favourite can opener

My favourite can opener fits over the lid of the can, and cuts the lid off underneath the lip ....... it's much easier to use than than the other kind as you hold it horizontally in one place and the can turns underneath the opener. Plus it has larger handles that are much easier for my hands.

If the latter .......... it isn't true!!! Very recent research has shown that every bottle of water now has hundreds and thousands of tiny plastic bits, that you are ingesting every time you drink

Cause for concern there. Shouldn't there be a warning on the bottle ?

Rose, have you got a knife with a finely serrated edge (like a grapefruit knife?) If you have and can wedge it somewhere with the blade upmost, you can rub the tear sachet along the edge until it starts to tear and the rest is easy. :-)

Sylvia, tap water has been tested it is entirely safe ( though where I live very hard water, so ruins the kettle and makes cleaning harder!). Bottled is useful in an emergency or when out and about but really there's no reason to buy it except for variations in taste.

I'm not a fan of liquids in plastic, aside from the eco considerations, I think it picks up the taste, certainly with milk.

I find the seals on milk difficult, and what I said to the marmite jar I couldn't open when I really wanted some is not to be repeated! I did manage it eventually with hot water.

Ring pulls if I can get them up with a knife and then use a wooden spoon handle I can manage sometimes,but often have to rely on son to do it. Tear sachets are also very difficult, cheese packets esp' as I have a a problem using scissors.

With the little tabs on milk I always use my teeth. Teeth do come in handy.

Rambling have used Nrs for years for all the family/

I doubt that very much, as those "design faults" have been around since 1959.

Companies don't make changes unless there is tremendous pressure put on them.

"Grey power" has a long way to go until that happens .............. we're not a large enough market!


I come back to my original question .......... do you REALLY have to buy bottled water?

I was lucky when I lived in England, our water came off the moors of the Pennines and it was beautiful to drink. But I also drank water from the tap all over the UK without any problems.

I left in 1967, have been back several times, and drunk water from the tap, last time was in 2008. Have there been such terrible changes in the UK drinking water supply that you are unable to drink it?

Or is it just a fad that the manufacturers have persuaded you all to fall for ....... that bottled water is better for you?

If the latter .......... it isn't true!!! Very recent research has shown that every bottle of water now has hundreds and thousands of tiny plastic bits, that you are ingesting every time you drink.

The bottle tops and ring pulls are a deign fault, one they'll hopefull correct.

I use bottled water and the tops are difficult but o.h. got a gadget that helps. Trouble is the bottles are filled to the very top so usually spill.

With ring pulls I use the end of a fork or spoon to lift the tab Then I put the utensil through the tab and the useful end against the edge of the can to lever the lid off gently.

Lizx

Another thing, I have trouble with the tiny tabs on milk bottle seals. They often break off and I end up stabbing the seal so that I can tear it off!! :-(

Me too, annoying isn't it ?

Inky1, I've tried that, although I find a teaspoon handle does quite well, but I still usually end up needing a can opener as well, so now I don't bother with the ring-pull.

Another thing, I have trouble with the tiny tabs on milk bottle seals. They often break off and I end up stabbing the seal so that I can tear it off!! :-(

Try https://www.nrshealthcare.co.uk/eating-drinking-aids/openers

cheaper and under certain circumsatnces you can get the VAT deducted. https://www.nrshealthcare.co.uk/vat-exemption

https://www.themobilityaidscentre.co.uk/shop-by-condition/aids-for-arthritis


selection of helping aids.

Found via Google

https://highlandspring.com/contact

I've successfully used pliers to open a stubborn water bottle. It should t be necessary.

I can usually manage ring pull cans....

but those silly tabs on plasticy prepacks like corned beef/ ham etc......ggggrrr!!

That's a very good one Von

On the type my wife buys the screw top is attached to the part that remains on the neck of the bottle, doesn't help.on the neck of the bottle, doesn't help.

This bottled water has been, around for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, yet
on the label it says best before etcetera

I looked for the e-mail address of Highland Spring. It just gave their online site address
which had no contact us feature.

That's a good idea Bob

Use a nut cracker on bottles.

I'm like so many of you, arthritic and with a very weak grasp. I have several gadgets for opening bottles and jars, use the hot water trick, or bang the edge of a metal lid gently on the counter, slowly turning the jar as I do. Or I ask OH if he is nearby.


BUT ...................... why buy bottled water? Is your local water so bad?

If your water isn't too good, you can try buying a filter jug OR simply boiling water, then letting jugfuls cool in the fridge.

Can you buy water in very large bottles? We can, and they can be delivered to your home. It can be like those water dispensers that you see in offices, or simply a 5 or 10 gallon bottle that has a tap near the bottom of the bottle. That stands on a kitchen counter, tap extending over the edge of the counter, and you simply lift the tap to release water into a glass.

Bottles are plastic, bad for the environment, and will soon be banned, hopefully.

Also EXPENSIVE!!!!!!



For juice at home, we buy cans of frozen juice, dilute and keep it in a large jug or glass bottle in the fridge. I drink a small glass of juice twice a day, and one can lasts me for about 5-6 days. OH has another kind of juice, so a separate container, and he only has a glass at breakfast. It is much cheaper, and much nicer, than bottled juice.


Having said this, I do occasionally buy bottled water as there is one place we go where the water does upset my stomach. If I cannot get filtered water from people we visit, I have boiled water using the coffee maker in the hotel room. If not those, then I just drink hot water or juice when eating out.

Only if I cannot get any of those ways do I buy bottled water.