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Microplastics in drinking water: Addressing human health risks and removal strategies
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Tiny plastic particles are showing up in our drinking water, and this review of recent studies finds that standard water treatment often doesn't catch them—especially the smallest bits, called nanoplastics. These particles may carry harmful chemicals and have been linked to hormone disruption, digestive problems, and other health issues, with kids and pregnant women potentially at greater risk. While newer filtering technologies show promise, there's currently no global safety standard for how much plastic in your water is "too much," so experts are calling for better regulations and testing methods.
Background: Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as significant environmental contaminants increasingly detected in drinking water. Originating from plastic waste, textiles, and industrial effluents, MPs can infiltrate water systems and resist conventional treatment processes. Their small size and ability to carry toxic substances such as plasticizers, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants raise serious concerns regarding human health and water safety. Methods: This study employed a narrative review approach by synthesizing literature published between 2021 and 2025 from PubMed, Dimensions AI, and ScienceDirect. The review examined the sources of MPs in drinking water, associated human health risks, detection methods, removal technologies, and existing regulatory frameworks. Findings: The review found that MPs in drinking water pose considerable health risks through chemical leaching, bioaccumulation, and physical damage. Smaller particles, particularly nanoplastics, are difficult to detect and can bypass conventional filtration systems. Exposure to MPs is associated with endocrine disruption, gastrointestinal disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and other long-term health impacts, especially among vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. Advanced treatment technologies, including nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and electrocoagulation show potential for effective removal, although economic and operational limitations hinder large-scale implementation. The study also identified major policy gaps, including the absence of standardized global regulations and safety thresholds for MPs. Conclusion: Microplastic contamination in drinking water represents a growing threat to public health and water quality management. Improved detection methods, stronger regulatory frameworks, advanced treatment technologies, and public health education are urgently needed to reduce exposure and ensure safer drinking water systems worldwide. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of microplastic contamination in drinking water by integrating health risk assessment, detection challenges, treatment technologies, and policy analysis within a single review. It highlights critical gaps in regulation and emphasizes the need for global standardization and interdisciplinary solutions.
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Micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water: the review
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Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics have been found in both tap and bottled water, and this review pulls together what scientists currently know about where they come from and whether water treatment plants can actually filter them out. The takeaway: current treatment methods only partially remove these particles, and researchers still don't fully understand what health risks come from swallowing them regularly. More study is needed, but for now, it's a reminder that "clean" drinking water may still contain plastic bits too small to see.
Evaluation of Potential Health Risks from Microplastics in Drinking Water
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This review assesses the potential human health risks of microplastics in drinking water, noting that while microplastics are widely detected, the health effects at typical exposure levels remain poorly understood. The authors call for improved risk assessment methods and drinking water monitoring standards.
Microplastics in Drinking Water: A Review of Sources, Removal, Detection, Occurrence, and Potential Risks
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This review examines how microplastics enter drinking water supply systems, evaluates methods for their detection and removal, and summarizes what is known about their occurrence in treated water. Researchers found that while conventional water treatment removes a significant portion of microplastics, no current method eliminates them completely. The study highlights the need for improved monitoring standards and further research into the long-term health effects of ingesting microplastics through drinking water.
The hidden hazard in every sip: tackling microplastics in drinking water through detection and mitigation
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Tiny plastic particles are showing up in tap water, bottled water, and groundwater worldwide, and this review pulls together what scientists currently know about detecting and removing them. While methods like filtration and boiling can help reduce these particles, researchers still don't have standardized testing methods or clear answers on long-term health risks, so more research is needed.
Microplastics in Water: Occurrence, Human Health Impact and Methods of Analysis
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This review covers the occurrence of microplastics in water sources globally, summarizing human health impacts from ingestion and inhalation, and evaluating available treatment technologies for removing microplastics from drinking water. The authors conclude that conventional water treatment is insufficient for complete microplastic removal.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.