Awareness drive on safe storage of bottled drinks launched in Sopore

Sopore, May 28: In a move aimed at safeguarding public health during the summer months, Tehsildar Sopore, Sheikh Tariq, on Wednesday launched an awareness campaign urging shopkeepers not to display water and soft drinks packed in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles under direct sunlight.

The campaign advises retailers to store such beverages inside shops, as prolonged exposure to sunlight can degrade PET bottles and pose health risks. Tehsildar Tariq was accompanied by Naib Tehsildar Shahid Khaliq and official Mohammad Ashraf during inspection visits to retail and wholesale outlets across Sopore town and the adjoining Sangrama area.

The initiative comes in the wake of a viral video shared by noted social activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who highlighted the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on bottled water and beverages. The video gained significant traction on social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and X.

“Several scientific studies, including those by Columbia University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), show that exposure to UV radiation can degrade PET bottles, releasing harmful substances,” said Dr. Muzaffar. “Such exposure — whether from direct sunlight or even indoor fluorescent lighting — contributes to PET quality degradation, posing risks to human health.”

He further emphasised that sunlight exposure can lead to the release of nanoplastics, which may enter the bloodstream and adversely impact human health.

“I’m grateful to Tehsildar Sopore and the Food Safety Department for responding to this concern and initiating an on-ground awareness campaign,” Dr Muzaffar added.