Dubai
Once a week, we see a truck that delivers water bottles to residents in our area. When standing outside the building, I see many water bottles arranged on a nearby platform right under the scorching sun. This does not seem to concern the delivery people, but the dangerous effects of this act is unknown to them.
According to the Livestrong Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organisation, leaving such plastic bottles in the sun can affect the “integrity of the bottle and change the taste of the water”. Additionally, substances and chemicals in the bottle can leach out into the water and the heat could accelerate bacterial growth in the water. This could lead to health problems.
In fact, some of the bottles made of bisphenol A, a harder plastic, are worse because it contains harmful chemicals that can be dangerous if consumed.
I believe that it is very important to raise awareness about this alarming issue and make sure that people who are directly involved get to know about the importance of this issue. Just to be on the safe side, they should store these water bottles out of the sun, preferably in a cool place, to ensure that the water doesn’t get contaminated.
I also request the concerned authorities to look into this issue and ensure that these water companies put the safety of their customers first. They should be fined if they neglect the safety of residents.
— The reader is a student based in Dubai.
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