Dangers From Drinking Out of Unwashed Cans

Waterborne illnesses are a huge concern in throughout the world in places where clean drinking water is scarce or contaminated. Drinking out of unwashed cans is never wise; contaminants may be within the can or the water used to rinse the can may have been contaminated. To prevent health problems from drinking out of unwashed cans, always clean wash yourself using clean, uncontaminated water before drinking from them.

Bacterial

• Cholera, salmonella and E. Coli are just three bacterial diseases caused by contaminated water that could be clinging to an unwashed can. Dirty water that has sewage leakage in it is particularly at fault for bacterial diseases. The body's primary system to rid itself of these bacterial infections is diarrhea, which accounts for millions of deaths each year in the developing world.

Parasitic

• Parasitic infections like giardia, Guinea worms and tape worms can come from dirty water in an unwashed can. These infections also cause diarrhea and result in weight loss and malnutrition if not treated. Parasites can come from fecal matter in water or from parasites crawling into the body from contaminated water sources. Even if the unwashed can you are drinking out of seems clean, parasites may be floating in droplets of contaminated water clinging to the sides.

Viral

• Hepatitis A is a virus that can be transmitted through contaminated drinking water, adding another reason to wash cans before putting their contents to your lips. This virus causes liver damage, nausea and jaundice. To ensure it is nowhere near the can you are using, boil water and pour it over the can.

Chemical

• If the can came from an area where chemical contaminants lay, it may be holding those contaminants inside. Chemicals can come from power plant run-off and cause stomach ulcers, sickness and death. Be sure you know where the unclean can came from before touching it just in case it was exposed to chemical toxins.