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Microplastics in Tap Water and Human Exposure: A Systematic Review and Estimated Daily Intakes Calculation
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Scientists reviewed existing studies on tiny plastic bits (called microplastics) found in tap water around the world, and discovered that young children and pregnant women may be swallowing the most of these particles relative to their body weight through drinking water. While it's still unclear exactly how harmful this is to our health, the findings highlight the need for better water treatment and testing standards, since the research so far is limited and varies a lot between studies. Bottom line: microplastics are showing up in tap water, and more research is needed to understand the real risks—especially for the most vulnerable groups.
Plastics are now ubiquitous in the environment, in this, the “Plasticene” era. Microplastics (MPs) and Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging contaminants of global concern. This systematic review, registered on PROSPERO and conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, investigated the presence, distribution, and characteristics of MPs in tap water (TW) worldwide, and estimated the population’s Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) by age group, including pregnant women. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane identified 22,650 records, of which 8 studies were included. MPs were detected in treated water (TW) in the studies included in this review, although the currently available evidence remains limited. Calculated EDIs were highest in children aged 6 months to 3 years (up to 39 MPs/kg bw/day), followed by pregnant women (up to 14.96 MPs/kg bw/day), reflecting differences in water intake per body weight. These estimates must be interpreted as indicative, estimated by methodological variability among studies. The widespread presence of MPs in TW calls for standardized methods, improved treatments, and thorough monitoring to assess risks and protect public health.
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