Adapted by:
Javier Jiménez
Senior WriterHead of science, health, and environment at Xataka. Methodologist turned communicator, I write about science, ideas and social change.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
As the heat arrives, so does increased thirst. Average household water consumption rises during the summer, not counting bottled water. In 2023, around 15.9 billion gallons of bottled water were sold in the U.S. However, people often overlook that consuming bottled water can have consequences, such as raising blood pressure.
How does this happen? It might seem logical to assume that drinking more water would increase blood pressure. In the end, blood pressure is defined as the force exerted by blood against the walls of arteries. More fluid in the system or higher salt intake could be expected to raise that pressure.
However, that’s not necessarily the case. Extreme conditions or specific compositions can affect blood pressure to some extent. Still, the body has numerous mechanisms to regulate blood pressure and ensure it stays within a normal range for healthy individuals.
What then? That’s what scientists at Austria’s Danube Private University wondered when they discovered that bottled water didn’t affect blood pressure.
The team found that when they kept eight healthy individuals (both men and women) on a tap water diet alone, their diastolic blood pressure decreased. Researchers observed this effect in both genders, but it was particularly pronounced in women.
Why did this happen? The team is working on several hypotheses. The most compelling relates to phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and durable. Interestingly, while all the water people consume today contains microplastics and several complex substances, the contents of bottled water differ from those of tap water.
This is a promising discovery because it can help scientists better understand the impact of microplastics on our bodies.
Image | Andres Siimon
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