Is it safe to store hot tea in PET bottles?
Every morning I bring with me a small PETE (from some searches it seems to be the same as PET plastic) bottle (an ex coke bottle) containing hot tea.
- Is it safe to store hot liquids, especially, tea in this type of container?
- Is possible, under these conditions, that the bottle releases some harmful substances?
Thanks in advance.
Best Answer
Live and learn, I was writing about PET causing cancer, but that's a hoax, apparently.
Some plastics can stand heat better than others, so try to be on the safe side, and let the liquid cool to 50°C (122°F) before storing it.
No, it won't release any harmful substances.
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Can I put hot tea in plastic bottle?
Parents who make warm drinks for their young children in plastic baby bottles are putting them at risk from harmful chemicals, scientists have warned.Can you put hot drinks in plastic water bottles?
When it encounters hot water, it dissolves and decomposes toxins. These harmful substances are harmful to the human body and may cause cancer when used for a long time. Because the plastic bottle contains chemical polyethylene, it will be released when it is in contact with hot water for a long time.Can you put tea in plastic?
This plastic is not recyclable or biodegradable. So, even when you put all your used tea bags in the food waste or compost heap, it can lead to plastic pollution, as not all of it will be broken down.Can you put hot drinks in water bottles?
If your stainless steel water bottle is single-walled, that is made of only one layer of stainless steel, then it's not a good idea to put piping hot drink into it. It isn't because the hot liquid will melt your bottle, but due to safety reasons.Glass vs PET Bottle Best Way to store Beer at home
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Answer 2
The answer to your first question is basically the answer to your second question with associated risk analysis (i.e., if yes, is it worth it?).
So to answer your second question, yes it does seem likely that most plastic containers release compounds that mimic estrogen under some conditions. Furthermore, many of the compounds that are released from plastics have not been fully tested, so the absence of specific information on their risk is not evidence of an absence of risk.
Since it does appear that these plastics can release harmful compounds under certain conditions then the answer to your first question of is it safe, boils down to "are you replicating an environment where enough endocrine mimics are released to cause harm?"
Given the lack of research on all of the ways in which plastics leach and the fact that there is evidence that endocrine disruptors do not follow normal dose-response curves, I personally would conclude that the risk exceeds the inconvenience of having to find a non-plastic container to transport your tea.
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