We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic pollution in drinking water
Summary
This review examines what is known about microplastic contamination in both tap and bottled drinking water around the world. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected in drinking water at many locations, the reported concentrations vary enormously, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about relative risk. The study highlights the urgent need for standardized sampling and analysis methods to produce reliable and comparable data on microplastics in the water we drink.
Scientists have demonstrated the presence of microplastics (MPs) in tap and bottled water at various locations. On a global scale, there is still very limited information on MP pollution in drinking water. There are huge differences in reported MP concentration, but no clear conclusion can be drawn if MP content is higher in tap or bottled water. Up to date, it is not clear if these discrepancies arise from differences between the examined systems or from differences in quantification limits, the accuracy of the applied analytical techniques, or contamination during sampling, processing, and analysis. Furthermore, information on MP uptake and fate gained through animal and cell toxicity studies is very limited. To define a limit of tolerance for plastic pollution in drinking water, comparable data resulting from quality assured and controlled methods and more information on the potential uptake and fate of MPs in the human body are still needed.