Scientists Reveal Unexpected Benefits of Boiled Water 0 11

Some people do not prefer to drink boiled water, claiming that it is "dead" because, in their opinion, the boiling process causes water to lose its beneficial properties, reports Doctorpiter.

However, boiling not only destroys harmful bacteria in tap water but, as studies have shown, also effectively removes microplastics. This conclusion was reached by scientists from Jinan University (Guangzhou).

“Boiling hard water can remove at least 80% of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene particles ranging from 0.1 to 150 micrometers,” the Chinese researchers report.

The mechanism is as follows: when boiling, calcium bicarbonate present in the water is converted into insoluble calcium carbonate CaCO3 (known as limescale), which forms a crust that covers plastic particles. Thus, the plastic, along with the limescale, settles at the bottom of the kettle.

The scientists also conducted experiments by heating water to 90 degrees. Although some plastic settled at the bottom of the kettle, they could not achieve the same effect as boiling.

However, the results were influenced not only by temperature but also by the hardness of the water. Hard water contains a high concentration of calcium bicarbonate, allowing for the removal of more microplastics. In soft water, the concentration of calcium bicarbonate is significantly lower, so only 25% of microplastics were removed from the liquid during boiling. Nevertheless, this is still better than nothing.

It is important not to pour all the remaining boiled water into a cup and to regularly clean the kettle from limescale.

How Much Plastic is in Our Water

Previous studies have shown that there are 5–6 microplastic particles in one liter of tap water. These particles are so small that they can penetrate human cells and accumulate in organs, causing inflammatory processes. Scientists link microplastics to infertility, bowel cancer, and diabetes, as well as congenital defects in fetuses when particles pass through the placenta into the baby's body.

It is also worth boiling water from plastic bottles. Recently, chemists from Columbia University (USA) discovered that a one-liter plastic bottle contains an average of 240,000 plastic particles. The researchers suggest that pieces of plastic flake off and enter the water when the container is compressed or heated. Additionally, even simply opening and closing the bottle cap can lead to plastic particles entering the water.

How Often Can You Boil Water

Doctors warn that water should be boiled no more than once.

“Regularly boiling water can increase the concentration of mineral salts, such as calcium and magnesium. Frequent consumption of such mineralized water can negatively affect health.

Experts recommend draining the remaining water from the kettle before each boiling and pouring in fresh water.