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Microplastics in bottled water and human health outcomes: a systematic review of multi-organ toxicity and mechanistic pathways.
Summary
Scientists reviewed 15 existing studies and found that tiny plastic particles from bottled water have been detected in human blood, placenta, and testicular tissue, with the strongest evidence linking them to reproductive harm, plus effects on the liver, gut, heart, and kidneys. The likely culprit is that these particles trigger cell-damaging stress and inflammation throughout the body, though more research is needed to confirm exactly how much risk everyday bottled water drinking poses.
This systematic review synthesized evidence on the health effects of microplastic exposure, with emphasis on organ-specific toxicity, molecular mechanisms, and implications for chronic disease. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for peer-reviewed studies examining health outcomes associated with microplastic exposure relevant to bottled water consumption. Eligible studies included human observational studies, controlled animal experiments, and mechanistic investigations. Of 128 identified records, 15 studies met inclusion criteria: 3 human observational studies, 5 experiments, 4 investigations, and 3 mixed-design studies. Geographically, studies originated from China (40%), United States (20%), and other regions (40%). Polystyrene (10 studies), polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate (4 studies each) were most frequently investigated. Human biomonitoring confirmed microplastic presence in blood (3.15 ± 1.25 particles/mL), placental tissue (226-273 µg/g), and testicular samples (328 µg/g). Reproductive toxicity was the most consistently reported adverse outcome (5 studies), followed by hepatic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, renal, developmental, and neurological effects. Across studies, oxidative stress (reported in 12 studies), inflammatory activation (10 studies), endocrine disruption (4 studies), and mitochondrial dysfunction (4 studies) emerged as principal mechanistic pathways. Chronic exposure to microplastics from bottled water may contribute to multisystem toxicity through oxido-inflammatory mechanisms.