Fertility experts list the household items, including plastic water bottles, which can affect your chances of conceiving

We wanted to share some important information regarding the impact of certain household items and chemicals on fertility, which is highly relevant to our mission at Friendly Water.

Recent findings from fertility experts highlight how everyday items, particularly plastic food containers and bottles, can affect conception chances. As you know, the advice for early pregnancy typically focuses on folic acid and avoiding alcohol or smoking. However, experts are increasingly warning about chemicals found in common household products that can disrupt hormones vital for reproductive functions.

These endocrine disruptors include perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates. They are present in various products like flooring, fizzy drinks, plastic packaging, cosmetics, and, significantly, plastic water bottles. A growing body of research links higher levels of these chemicals to increased miscarriage risk, lower fertility, and difficulty conceiving, especially considering the declining global fertility rates.

Experts recommend several steps to reduce exposure to PFAS:

• Reduce consumption of bottled water:** People who regularly drink from plastic bottles maintain constant exposure to these chemicals.
• Avoid heating food or drinks in plastic: ** Professor Channa Jayasena from Imperial College London emphasizes that heating in plastic, unless specifically designed for it, can cause chemicals to leach into food. Dr. Shanna Swan, a environmental epidemiologist, also strongly advises against microwaving plastic, noting that plasticizers are not chemically bound and will transfer to food in hot environments. This also applies to leaving plastic water bottles in hot cars.