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Drinking or not drinking: Microplastic contamination in single-use water containers
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Researchers tested bottled water from single-use plastic bottles and beverage cartons sold in Italy for tiny plastic particles. Microplastics were found in 55% of samples, mostly textile cellulose and polyethylene, with amounts and estimated daily intake slightly higher for plastic bottles than cartons, and higher for children than adults.
Concern about the presence of microplastics (MPs) in food and beverages is increasing, given their still unknown effects on the human body. In this study, the presence of MPs in drinking water from single-use plastic bottles (n = 60) and carton beverage (n = 24) from the Italian market was analyzed. The results show the presence of MPs in 55% of the samples. On average, plastic bottles contained 7.6 ± 8.4 items/L, while beverage cartons contained 6.2 ± 1.4 items/L, after blank correction, with an overall range of <LOD to 18.5 items/L. The size ranged from 20 to 1000 µm, with the prevalence of black, blue, and red colors. The polymers detected were textile cellulose (78.2%), polyethylene (12.8%), polyethylene terephthalate (6.0%), polypropylene (1.5%), and polyamide (1.5%). Estimated daily intakes (EDI) were 0.56 ± 0.40 and 0.39 ± 0.09 MP/kg/day for children and 0.25 ± 0.18 and 0.18 ± 0.04 MP/kg/day for adults, in single-use plastic bottles and beverage cartons, respectively. Textile cellulose was included in the EDI assessment using a conservative approach to better reflect human exposure to anthropogenic microparticles. This baseline data will help to understand the risk associated with MP ingestion by humans through drinking water in plastic bottles and beverage cartons.
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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.
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Researchers analyzed microplastics in ten bottled water brands and found up to nine microplastic particles per liter, estimating that people who drink only bottled water may ingest over 150 microplastic particles per year — with polypropylene and polystyrene being the most common types found.
Occurrence of Microplastics in Different Brands of Bottled Water and an Assessment of Human Exposure in Detroit, Michigan
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Researchers tested five bottled water brands sold in Detroit, Michigan for microplastics using filtration and fluorescence microscopy. All samples contained detectable microplastic particles at levels higher than a clean water blank, with amounts varying by brand, and estimated daily intake was higher in children than adults.
Prevalence and Quantification of Microplastics in Bottled Water
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Scientists tested bottled water and found tiny plastic particles—known as microplastics—in every sample, with counts ranging widely from 22 to 246 particles per liter. Most of these particles were identified as polyethylene, a common plastic used in packaging. While the health effects of consuming microplastics aren't fully understood yet, this study adds to growing evidence that bottled water may be a significant source of plastic exposure, highlighting the need for more research into what this means for our health.
Microplastics in bottled water sold in Mexico: Occurrence, polymer composition and human exposure assessment
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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.
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