Can you drink mineral water that has been exposed to the sun?

I believe everyone has drunk mineral water, and it is a must-have item at home and when traveling. But mineral water also has a shelf life, but many people don’t know it. Many people think that as long as mineral water is not opened, it can be stored in any way. In fact, this is not true. If mineral water is exposed to the sun, not only will the taste be affected, but the outer bottle will also release organic matter after being exposed to the sun and will be absorbed into the water. So, can the mineral water that has been exposed to the sun still be drinkable?

1. Sun-dried mineral water is drinkable

Even if mineral water is exposed to the sun, its quality will not change and it is still drinkable. Nowadays, mineral water bottles are made of PVC and PET materials. These materials will release some organic matter after being exposed to the sun for a long time and absorb into the water, but they are harmless to the human body. Therefore, mineral water that has been exposed to the sun can still be drunk.

2. Why does mineral water taste different after being exposed to the sun?

The full name of PVC is polyvinyl chloride. When the temperature is above 100℃ or after long-term exposure to sunlight, it will decompose and produce hydrogen chloride, which can easily dissolve in water. It will significantly increase the acidity of water and change the taste of water, but it will not affect the drinking water.

3. How long can the mineral water stored in the sun be kept?

Careful people must know that although mineral water is water, it has a shelf life. Due to the softening of the bottle during exposure to the sun, some air and fungi will enter the bottle, which will seriously shorten the shelf life of the mineral water. Therefore, it is best to drink the mineral water that has been exposed to the sun within the same day.

4. How to store mineral water in hot weather

When indoors, mineral water can be stored in the refrigerator's cold storage layer, which is not only clean and hygienic, but also can be cooled appropriately so that the temperature is suitable when drinking. When outdoors, due to the relatively high temperature, mineral water is best placed under trees, in corners of houses, and other places where direct sunlight cannot reach, to avoid softening of the mineral water bottle and reducing the hygiene and safety of the mineral water.

5. Do I need to boil mineral water to drink?

Mineral water does not need to be boiled. The main value of mineral water is to replenish a large amount of minerals for drinkers. When water is heated and boiled, many oxidation reactions and replacement reactions will occur. In particular, the oxidizing mineral elements such as selenium and zinc in mineral water will be seriously reduced, which will significantly reduce the nutritional value of mineral water. Therefore, it is not recommended to boil mineral water for drinking.