Presence and Quantification of Microplastic in Urban Tap-Water

Plastic pollution is a rapidly growing environmental and human health crisis, with no sign of improvement. Since 2012 the number of studies on plastic pollution has quadrupled, and macro to nano-size plastics have been documented even in the planet's remote biomes. Studies have shown contamination by microplastics (MPs) in various types of food consumed by humans, including seafood, honey, sugar, salt, tap-water and bottled water and beer. The study's objective was to detect the possible contamination by MPs in drinking water samples collected from the two main residential and commercial areas of Brasília. A total of 32 samples of tap water were collected, 16 samples in the south zone, and 16 samples in the north zone of the city (respectively, South Wing and North Wing). Samples were processed and transferred to the Sedgewick-Rafter counting cell chamber. The presence of MPs particles was analysed using a Nikon Eclipse fluorescence microscope. MPs were found in 100% of the samples. The mean MPs per 500 ml found in the South Wing area was 97, while the mean number of particles in the North Wing area was 219. The study results reveal a disturbing amount of MP particles in Brasilia's tap-water. This surprising number of particles in tap-water is especially concerning considering that tap-water is not the only source of MPs to which people are exposed. The cumulative and toxicological effect of this chronic exposure is alarming.