We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in bottled water sold in Mexico: Occurrence, polymer composition and human exposure assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers testing popular bottled water brands in Mexico found tiny plastic particles, mostly fibers smaller than 500 micrometers (thinner than a human hair), in every sample, averaging about 39 particles per liter. These tiny bits are small enough to potentially pass into human tissues, and kids face the highest exposure relative to their body weight, which matters since bottled water is a daily habit for millions.
Mexico is among the world's leading consumers of bottled water per capita; however, comprehensive data on microplastic (MP) contamination across the commercial brands in the country remains limited. In this study, ten widely commercialized bottled water brands (n = 50 samples) were analyzed using membrane filtration, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for polymer identification. A total of 2,358 MP particles were detected in the analyzed samples with an average concentration of 39.3 ± 14.6 particles/L. Fibers were the predominant shape of the detected MPs (72.2%), and transparent particles were the most frequent color (57.7%). Notably, most of detected MPs were smaller than 500 µm (80.3%), raising toxicological concerns due to the high probability of systemic translocation in human tissues. Furthermore, PET and PP polymers were detected among the selected MP particles analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. The estimated intake assessment revealed that children experience the highest exposure on a body weight basis (228.2 particles/kg/year), followed by adults (158.3 particles/kg/year) and youth (148.3 particles/kg/year). These findings provide robust evidence of MP contamination in bottled water sold in Mexico and highlight bottled water consumption as a potential pathway of human exposure.
More Papers Like This
First evidence of microplastics in bottled water sold in Mexico
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers provided the first evidence of microplastic contamination in bottled water sold in Mexico, analyzing ten widely consumed commercial brands. They detected an average of 39.3 particles per liter, with most particles smaller than 500 micrometers, and PET and polypropylene were the dominant polymers, indicating that fragmentation of the bottles and caps is the primary contamination source. The study found that children are the most vulnerable population segment, with the highest relative microplastic intake normalized by body weight.
Exposure to micro(nano)plastics polymers in water stored in single-use plastic bottles.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified micro(nano)plastics ranging from 700 nm to 20 µm in bottled water from 20 popular Spanish brands, assessing daily consumer exposure risk and raising concern about the widespread presence of plastic polymer particles in single-use bottled water.
Microplastic prevalence and human exposure in the bottled drinking water in the west Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh, India
AI summary Read the abstract
A study of nine bottled water brands in India found an average of about 2.9 microplastic particles per liter, mostly fibers made of polypropylene and PET plastic. Children face higher daily exposure relative to their body weight than adults, and lifetime intake estimates suggest significant cumulative exposure through bottled water alone -- underscoring the importance of understanding microplastics in drinking water sources.
Occurrence and Assessment of Human Exposure to Microplastic Particles in Bottled Water From Southwest, Nigeria
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested eight brands of bottled water from southwest Nigeria and found microplastics in all of them, averaging about 15 particles per liter, mostly in the form of fibers. Children were estimated to consume three to four times more microplastics per kilogram of body weight than adults from bottled water. The study adds to growing evidence that bottled water is a significant source of human microplastic exposure, especially for children.
Quantitative analysis of microplastic presence in commercially bottled drinking water brands and the associated human exposure
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified microplastics in 17 commercially bottled water brands in Sabah, Malaysia, finding concentrations ranging from 2 to 42 particles per liter — dominated by black-colored fragments and fibers of polypropylene originating mainly from bottle caps — with estimated daily intake reaching 0.53 particles/kg/day for children.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.