We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Identification of Micro-plastics (MPs) in Conventional Tap Water Sourced from Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Tap water samples collected at a Thai university contained an average of 56 microplastic particles per liter in the smallest size fraction (6.5 to 53 micrometers), with fibers making up 58% of all particles and polyethylene, PVC, PET, and polypropylene among the polymers confirmed by spectroscopy. The study identifies tap water microplastic contamination as a potential direct health exposure pathway in Thailand.
In a period when MP contamination of drinking water is a great concern, this study focused on the size- and morphology-based count, and polymeric identification of plastic particles in tap water sourced from Thailand. A total of 45 human consumable samples (each 1 L) were collected at Thammasat University. The average MP counts sorted by Nile Red tagging were 56.0±14.0 p/L (6.5-53 µm) and 21.0±7.0 p/L (53-300 µm), while those found by optical microscopic observations were 13.0±5.0 p/L (300-500 µm) and 6.0±3.0 p/L (≥ 500 µm). A significantly high MP amount was observed in the 6.5-53 µm fraction. Fibers dominated in all samples, accounting for 58% of the particle count. Most ≥ 300 µm particles tested by ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy were confirmed to be polymeric, identified as PE, PVC, PET, PA, PTFE, PP, and PAM. These particles may have escaped from the treatment plant or were added along the water distribution network. Since MPs in drinking water constitute a potential health risk by exposing humans to direct plastics intake, MP contamination in water supply systems should be controlled.
More Papers Like This
Smaller-sized micro-plastics (MPs) contamination in single-use PET-bottled water in Thailand.
AI summary Read the abstract
This study quantified microplastics in ten brands of single-use PET-bottled water sold in Thailand, finding an average of 140 particles per liter using fluorescent staining. The results add to global evidence that bottled water is a consistent route of human microplastic exposure and suggest that plastic packaging is a likely contamination source.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in freshwater and treated tap water in Bangkok, Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were detected in freshwater sources and treated tap water in Bangkok, Thailand, with higher concentrations in surface water than tap water, suggesting that existing treatment processes partially remove microplastics but do not eliminate them.
Issues of Microplastics Pollution in Tap and Drinking Water Sources in Thailand and Health Impacts
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines microplastic contamination in tap and drinking water sources in Thailand, linking the problem to poor solid waste management that allows single-use plastics to enter aquatic systems. Thailand is among the top 10 countries for mismanaged plastic waste, with an estimated 60,000 tons per year entering the ocean.
Characterization of Microplastics in Household Tap Water in Vietnam's Rural Areas: A Preliminary Study in the Red River Delta Region
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in household tap water in rural areas of Vietnam's Red River Delta. The study found an average of 6.8 microplastic particles per liter, mostly fragments and fibers smaller than 200 micrometers, with a polymer hazard index indicating high pollution risk levels across the sampled tap water.
Microplastic accumulation, morpho-polymer characterization, and dietary exposure in urban tap water of a developing nation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed tap water from four major cities in Bangladesh and found microplastics in every sample, with an average of about 35 particles per liter, higher than most other countries studied. The vast majority were tiny fibers less than 0.5 mm, primarily made of polyethylene. The estimated daily intake of about 2.65 microplastic particles per person through tap water alone highlights how people in developing nations may face disproportionate microplastic exposure through their drinking water.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.