Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 30: To protect public health during the summer heat, authorities in Sopore today launched an awareness campaign urging shopkeepers not to display water and soft drinks in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles under direct sunlight.
The campaign, led by Tehsildar Sheikh Tariq and accompanied by Naib Tehsildar Shahid Khaliq and Mohammad Ashraf, involved visits to numerous retail and wholesale grocery shops across Sopore town and the adjoining Sangrama area.
Shopkeepers were advised to store packed water and soft drinks inside their shops instead of displaying them outside, as prolonged sun exposure can pose serious health risks.
The drive follows a viral video shared by social activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, highlighting the harmful effects of sunlight on plastic bottles containing water and beverages.
The video gained widespread attention on social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and X.
“Several scientific studies conducted worldwide, notably by Columbia University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have shown that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation degrades PET bottles. UV radiation, whether from direct sunlight or even fluorescent lighting in retail stores, contributes to the breakdown of plastic quality and poses risks to human health,” Dr. Raja Muzaffar explained.
Scientific research confirms that when PET bottles are exposed to sunlight, especially during the summer, they release nanoplastics that can enter the human bloodstream, causing potential health hazards.
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