Can chemicals leach from plastic bottles and pose a health risk?

Most experts who spoke to WebMD say there is little to worry about.

The major concerns have involved the chemicals bisphenol A and phthalates.

Bisphenol A is used in the production of multiuse polycarbonate water bottles, but not in single-use bottles used by commercial bottlers.

Likewise, phthalates are not typically found in plastic beverage bottles used commercially in the U.S. But Janssen says phthalates have been found in bottled water, suggesting that it may leach from the plastic cap or liner.

"These chemicals may be in your water, but you would never know because the water companies are not required to test for them," she says.