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Identification of microplastics in bottled water, a potential risk to human health
Summary
Microplastics were identified in commercial bottled water in Mexico—the world's leading bottled water consumer—using Nile Red staining and hydrogen peroxide oxidation. The study confirmed bottled water as a significant source of human microplastic ingestion, raising health concerns for consumers relying on this water source.
Mexico is the leading consumer of bottled water. Microplastic pollutants are emerging that are ubiquitous in the environment, posing a risk to human and environmental health. The aim was to determine the presence of microplastics in commercial bottled water using Nile Red staining, and 30% hydrogen peroxide oxidation. Microplastics were verified by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Microplastics were identified in all brands analyzed, with higher count observed in the oxidation method (16,504 range: 604 to 8,648) compared to Nile Red staining (4,812; range: 73 to 2,013), p = 0.04 (Mann-Whitney U test). Granules predominated in both methods. Exposure to microplastics per kilogram of body weight in children and infants was 3 to 5 times higher than in adults. The long-term effects of this exposure remain unknown, highlighting the need to implement monitoring programs for emergency contaminants to ensure access to high-quality water.