Presence and Quantification of Microplastic in Urban Tap Water: A Pre-Screening in Brasilia, Brazil

Plastic pollution is a rapidly growing environmental and human health crisis, with no sign of improvement. From 2012 to 2020, the number of studies on plastic pollution increased, and macro to nano-sized plastics have been documented in the most remote biomes of the planet. Studies have shown contamination by microplastics (MPs) in various types of food consumed by humans, including seafood, honey, sugar, salt, tap and bottled water and beer. This study’s objective was to detect the possible contamination by MPs in drinking water samples collected from two main residential and commercial areas of Brasilia. A total of 32 samples (500 mL) of tap water were collected from residential and commercial areas. Samples were processed and transferred to a Sedgewick-Rafter counting cell chamber. The presence of MP particles was analyzed using a Nikon Eclipse fluorescence microscope. MPs were found in 100% of the samples. The mean microplastic particles per 500 mL found in the South Wing area was 97 ± 55, while the mean number of particles in the North Wing area was 219 ± 158, and the MPs found ranged in size from 6–50 microns. The study results reveal a disturbing amount of MP particles in Brasilia’s tap water. This surprising number of particles in residential and commercial tap water is especially considering that tap water is not the only source of MPs to which people are exposed.