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Microbacteria can build up in your reusable water bottle
Putting sugary drinks into your reusable water bottle also increases the chances of bacteria buildup.
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Singer said that poor personal hygiene habits, such as rarely or not washing your hands after using the toilet, or taking your water bottle to the toilet with you, could increase the chances of getting serious infections. (Shutterstock/File)
B
oth oral and environmental bacteria and viruses could be building up on reusable water bottles that are not cleaned on a regular basis, according to a scientist from the Center for Ecology and Hydrology.
Senior scientist Andrew Singer was recently interviewed by the Huffington Post UK, where he explained that even E. coli could find its way into an unclean reusable water bottle.
“When you flush the toilet, the toilet water will get aerosolized and a fraction of the water droplets can land on and in your water bottle,” Singer explained.
Singer said that poor personal hygiene habits, such as rarely or not washing your hands after using the toilet, or taking your water bottle to the toilet with you, could increase the chances of getting serious infections.
Read also: Top bottled water brands contaminated with plastic particles: Report
“This is the most likely way for E. coli to get [in your bottle],” he said.
Putting sugary drinks into your reusable water bottle also increased the chances of bacteria buildup, Singer explained, adding that it was made even worse by using bottles with built-in or retractable straws. Extra features like this could retain more moisture, and whatever drink (sugary or otherwise) you put into the bottle, making it more difficult to clean.
Just like cutlery, reusable water bottles have to be cleaned on a daily basis -- stop leaving them on your desk, in the car, or in your backpack and simply refilling it when it gets empty or close to empty. (acr/kes)
