Drivers warned to remove bottles of water from cars until Tuesday

Drivers are being warned to remove bottles of water from cars until Tuesday as the country basks in a heatwave.

Temperatures are forecast to reach 34C in eastern parts of England on Saturday, while much of the country will enjoy sunny climes in the low 30s. While some thunderstorms are possible across northern and western parts of the UK on Saturday, conditions will be warm and humid across the weekend, with the Met Office forecasting a ‘tropical night’ with temperatures remaining above 20C. The warm spell is due to last over the weekend before cooling down by Tuesday, when conditions should be much fresher and breezier.

Staying hydrated in the uncomfortable conditions over the coming days is essential, but if you’re heading out in the car make sure you don’t leave a bottle of water inside your vehicle.

While it’s a good idea to keep a bottle of water on hand in hot weather, leaving one in your car to have with you while you’re out and about can actually do you more harm than good.

Experts warn that when a plastic water bottle is left in a hot car, the high temperatures can cause the bottle to release harmful chemicals into the water.

Not only that but if you’ve opened the bottle for a sip and then put it back in your car, the hot weather can create a breeding ground for bacteria which can potentially make it unsafe to drink.

The Weather Channel explains: “Something as simple as leaving a water bottle in the car on a hot day can pose a health risk. Studies have shown that when plastic water bottles are exposed to heat, they begin to leach BPA, microplastics, and other dangerous chemicals into water. These chemicals have been associated with hormone imbalance, gastrointestinal irritation, and even cancer.

“This might happen more quickly than you think. On an 80 degree day [26C, a parked car can reach 110 degrees [43C] in less than thirty minutes. That shift in temperature is more than enough to change the migration of BPA in bottled water, according to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

“Because drinking water is such a daily necessity, even exposure to small amounts of a chemical like BPA from water bottles can accumulate into a health risk through repeated exposure.”

Instead of using a plastic bottle, experts instead recommend filling up a re-usable glass or metal bottle, or use a plastic bottle that is BPA-free, to ensure you aren’t consuming contaminated water.

You can check if a bottle is BPA-free by looking at the recycling codes on the bottom, and if it contains either number three or seven then it shouldn’t be used.

SpringWell Water Filtration Systems adds: “Use BPA-free alternatives. As consumer awareness grows, manufacturers increasingly offer BPA-free products to meet the demand.

“So, when shopping, prioritise products explicitly labeled as “BPA-free.” While not all products carry this label, some plastics with recycling codes 3 or 7 could contain BPA. Therefore, exercise caution with unmarked products and choose those identified as BPA-free.”