Every time you hit the brakes at a stoplight or stop sign in Iowa, do you see or hear what feels like hundreds of water bottles sliding all over your floorboards? If that's the case, it's time for an intervention or a few extra minutes at the gas station to throw them away.

Not only could the water in that clear water bottle be filling up with chemicals but it could kill you or your car. That's right, a water bottle or any clear plastic bottle could be the death of you, literally.

attachment-Illinois Water Bottle
loading...

If you don't get rid of those plastic bottles, it could give you a very serious illness, catch your car on fire, or even get you into a serious accident.

Water Bottles Could Set Your Car On Fire

It sounds like an oxymoron but it's not. Think about water and plastic. A little bit of water left in a clear plastic water bottle on the seat or floor of your car mixed with direct sunlight could act as a magnifying glass in the sun. You know those results, right?

attachment-Illinois Water Bottle (1)
loading...

Many experts recommend keeping plastic water bottles away from hot places like cars or garages and storing them in a cool, dark spot, far away from any heat sources.

Water Bottles Could Break Your Brakes

Not actually break them but they could definitely prevent you from doing so. If your floorboards are covered in plastic water bottles that are half full, they are probably rolling all over the place.

attachment-Illinois Water Bottle (3)
loading...

While driving, if one of those bottles rolls out from under the drivers seat and gets under the brake peddle and you approach a stop sign or light, it could spell danger. Plus, if it has been sitting in the heat, some pressure has built up inside making it impossible to squish it down even if it's lodged under the peddle.

Never Drink Water Out Of A Plastic Bottle Left In A Hot Car

Who likes warm water? Also, you have to have a strong feeling that taking a swig out of that bottle isn't going to make any part of you feel good. On my way into work Friday morning, I took a drink out of an unopened water bottle that's been in my car for weeks.

attachment-Illinois Water Bottle (2)
loading...

It tasted fine, but then I thought about all of the chemicals that had been leaking into it. Turns out I was right. When exposed to heat, the chemical bonds in plastic can break and cause BPA and other chemicals to migrate into the water according to a 2014 study.

BPA exposure can cause Type 2 diabetes, hormonal disruption, and even breast and prostate cancer. Open water bottles in the heat could also promote bacterial growth. If you drink that you could get really sick really fast.

Clean your car, immediately. Water bottles are dangerous.

Best scenic drives in Iowa

It's time to hit the road—Stacker compiled a list of the best scenic drives in Iowa using data from Tripadvisor as of March 2024.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: Books set in Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of books set in Iowa from Goodreads.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

More From B100