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Screening for microplastics in drinking water and its toxicity profiling in zebrafish
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Researchers tested several brands of bottled water sold in India and found microplastics present in all samples, with polyethylene being the most common polymer detected. When zebrafish embryos were exposed to these microplastics, they showed concentration-dependent toxic effects including developmental abnormalities and organ accumulation. The study raises concerns about human health risks from microplastics in commercially available drinking water.
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major environmental problem in freshwater and marine environments. The effects of these polymers on aquatic life are well studied; however, there is limited knowledge of MP-associated health hazards in humans. We estimated the presence of MPs in different brands of bottled water available in India using the Nile red (NR) staining method. The FTIR examination revealed the presence of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polyamide (PA) in the bottled water samples with PE being the most prevalent one. Zebrafish embryos exposed to different concentrations of fluorescent-tagged polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) (10-150 μm) showed accumulation patterns at different time points in various organs. The exposure to PE MPs induced a concentration-dependent ROS activity. The expression of first-line antioxidative defense marker genes were significantly downregulated in embryos exposed to varying concentrations of PE-MPs, suggesting concentration and time-dependent effects on zebrafish. The results of this study suggest that the potential negative consequences on human health could be due to the oxidative stress and time-dependent toxicity of MPs.
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Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.
Occurrence and Potential Health Risks Due to Trihalomethanes and Microplastics in Bottled Water
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Researchers found microplastics and trihalomethanes in all tested Indian bottled water brands, with microplastic counts of 20-127 particles per liter and estimated yearly microplastic intake of 153 grams per person through bottled water consumption.
First evidence of microplastics and their characterization in bottled drinking water from a developing country
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Scientists in a developing country analyzed 10 brands of bottled drinking water and found microplastics in all samples, with concentrations varying by brand. The most common particles were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers, likely originating from the plastic bottle caps and packaging. This study adds to evidence that bottled water is a significant source of daily microplastic intake for people worldwide.
Embryotoxicity of Polystyrene Microspheres of Different Sizes to the Marine Medaka Oryzias melastigma (McClelland, 1839)
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in bottled and tap water samples from 16 countries, detecting plastic particles in nearly all samples. Bottled water contained on average twice the concentration of tap water, with polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate dominating.
Drinking Water Contamination by Microplastics in India: Comparative Analysis, Risk Assessment, and Global Implications
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A systematic review of Indian drinking water studies found microplastic concentrations up to 10,000 MPs per liter in bottled water and up to 60 MPs per liter in tap water, with children consuming up to 0.291 MPs per kilogram per day from bottled water alone. The findings highlight significant drinking water contamination across India and project long-term health risks including endocrine disruption, bioaccumulation, and cytotoxicity from chronic low-level microplastic ingestion.
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