Microplastic pollution in bottled water: a systematic review

Microplastic contamination of drinking water is a growing issue that is spreading across the globe. A systematic review focused on bottled drinking water has not yet been done. Thus, the review’s objective is to examine the most recent developments in microplastics research around the world, as well as the physical properties of microplastics and the different kinds of polymers in bottled water. Two reputed databases were used to achieve the objectives. The results showed that the number of published articles has generally been increasing over the years, with a few fluctuations. China and Iran have equal and the greatest number of published articles, with around 14% each share, and Asia has the largest publication count, 38% of the total. According to the review, the abundance of microplastics was recorded in a range of 56–100% of the analyzed bottle samples. Fragments constituted the majority of microplastics, accounting for around 50%, with fibers comprising around 36%. Polyethylene Terephthalate is the dominant polymer. Overall, the study’s outcomes contribute valuable information to understanding global research trends, geographic concentrations, physical characteristics, polymer types, and estimated daily intake related to microplastic contamination in bottled water. The study highlights a critical research gap regarding the health risks associated with microplastic exposure, emphasizing the need for further investigation in this area. Moreover, research on microplastic pollution relies on snapshot techniques instead of seasonal approaches. A crucial need exists for longer-term studies, mainly focusing on consistent monitoring of specific bottled water brands.