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Microplastic: Unveiling the Stealthy Polluters in Our Water
Summary
This review covers microplastic contamination in water sources, documenting sources, environmental pathways, analytical detection methods, and potential human health risks from drinking water containing plastic particles, along with emerging mitigation strategies.
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues worldwide, with micro plastics emerging as a major concern due to their widespread presence and potential health risks.Micro plastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, originating from a variety of sources such as personal care products, synthetic textiles and plastic waste.These particles have been detected in a variety of environmental settings including soil, sediment and surface water.In recent years, the discovery of micro plastics in drinking water has raised significant public health and scientific concerns.This study aimed to determine the presence of micro plastics in tap water samples collected from various locations, to determine the types of micro plastics present in the tap water samples through physical (shape, colour) and chemical (FTIR analysis) characterization, and identify and classify the types of micro plastics found from various locations in residential tap water.A total of 120 litres of tap water samples were collected using random sampling methods from residential and commercial premises at four designated locations.The presence of micro plastics in tap water may be attributed to a variety of sources, including distribution systems and human domestic activities.To accurately identify micro plastics, two analytical methods were used: light microscopy for visual observation and Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Micro-FTIR) for chemical analysis.The results revealed three types of micro plastic particles in tap water samples: cellulose, cellophane, and poly (2, 2, and 2-trifluoromethyl vinyl ether).The findings confirmed the presence of micro plastics in tap water used for domestic consumption.Given the potential health risks associated with direct ingestion of micro plastics, it is important to implement effective monitoring and control strategies in water supply systems to ensure safe drinking water.
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