Francesca Biagioli The problem of microplastics and nanoplastics in bottled water has probably been underestimated until now. The results of a new study paint a very worrying picture
Bottled water has been under scrutiny for years over its environmental price tag: the massive consumption of single-use plastic leads to pollution and the waste pandemic, and its manufacture and shipping emit large amounts of CO₂. Beyond its environmental damage, mounting evidence now points to potential health risks of drinking water sold in plastic bottles.
Microplastic contamination of bottled water has been documented for many years now, but the study we are discussing today takes a turn to the nanoplastics. These even smaller particles (less than 1 micrometer in diameter) pose potential dangers since they would easily pass through the lining of the intestine, the placenta, and even the blood-brain barrier, says Beizhan Yan, co-author of the study.
The findings
Using a novel laser method developed by researchers at Rutgers University and Columbia University, they were able to detect an exponentially larger number of plastic particles compared to their previous methods.
From the study of three most widely consumed bottled water brands in America, the researchers determined that a single liter of bottled water contains between 110,000 and 370,000 plastic particles (a mean of about 240,000). About 90% of the particles are nanoplastics, which are too small to see and can nevertheless cause damage to the human body.
This is a concerning statistic, and the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, determined that up until now, the problem had been vastly underestimated: bottled water might contain up to 100 times more plastic particles than had previously been calculated.
Health risks
The health effect on humans of nanoplastics is not known but there are several concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described three potential dangers from plastic in the water:
- The plastic particles, which can be ingested and accumulate in the body.
- The chemicals leached from the plastic, some of which have been found to be toxic to the endocrine system.
- Microbes that may infest the plastic particles, risking biological contamination.
How does so much plastic get into water?
Plastic bottles mainly consist of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a plastic that can shed microscopic pieces into the liquid within. How the manufacturing process, heat exposure, and storage time can all aid in the release of particles, tainting the water before the human even takes a sip.
What you can do
Even though we may not have details for every country, this discovery is certainly chilling. The positive news is that there are cleaner and safer alternatives:
- Use water from the tap, where certified filtration systems will remove possible pollutants.
- Opt for glass or stainless steel reusable containers and minimize extended exposure to plastic.
- Support policies that limit single-use plastics, encouraging the application of safer, biodegradable materials.
