We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in potable water of a coastal city of Bangladesh: Efficacy of boiling as a point-of-use mitigation strategy
Summary
Researchers quantified microplastic contamination across three domestic water sources in Khulna City, Bangladesh — pond, tap, and groundwater — finding MPs in all samples and demonstrating that boiling reduces concentrations by over 70%, with reduction efficiency strongly correlated with water hardness due to calcium carbonate co-precipitation trapping particles at the vessel bottom.
Microplastic (MP) contamination of potable water is an emerging concern, particularly in developing countries where treatment infrastructure is limited and plastic pollution is widespread. This study quantified MPs levels in Khulna City's major domestic water sources and assessed the effectiveness of boiling as a point-of-use mitigation strategy. Forty-five samples were collected from three distinct domestic water supply sources in Khulna city: i) supplied tap water, ii) ponds, and iii) submersible groundwater, and analyzed using microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Total water hardness was measured to examine its association with MP reduction in nine composite samples. MPs were detected in all samples, with pond water exhibiting the highest concentration (71.2 ± 10.6 particles/L), followed by supplied tap water (45.5 ± 6.1 particles/L) and submersible groundwater (40.1 ± 3.1 particles/L). Most MPs were < 400 μm in size, predominantly fibers and fragments, with blue and transparent particles being most common. Six polymer types were identified, of which polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the most prevalent. Boiling significantly (p < 0.001) reduced MP concentrations by >70% across all water types, with reductions reflecting physical settling of MPs in very hard water, consistent with calcium carbonate scale formation and co-precipitation reported previously, rather than thermal degradation. MP reduction showed a strong positive association with water hardness (r = 0.76). Estimated daily and annual MP intake values were consistently higher for non-boiled than boiled water, indicating that boiling can effectively reduce exposure. However, because MPs accumulate at the bottom of the container rather than being eliminated, gentle decanting of the clear supernatant after cooling and settling is recommended to minimize ingestion.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Presence of microplastics in drinking water from freshwater sources: the investigation in Changsha, China
Researchers measured microplastic abundance at multiple stages of a drinking water supply chain in Changsha, China — from source freshwater through treatment to household taps — finding that water treatment reduced MP concentrations by more than 85% but tap water still contained an average of 344 particles per liter.
A solution for controling microplastics in drinking water
Researchers developed and tested a system for controlling microplastic contamination in drinking water, reporting on removal efficiency at levels relevant to public health. The approach offered effective microplastic reduction from drinking water sources including tap and bottled water.
Microplastic accumulation, morpho-polymer characterization, and dietary exposure in urban tap water of a developing nation
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.
Removal efficiencies of microplastics of the three largest drinking water treatment plants in Bangladesh
Researchers evaluated the three largest drinking water treatment plants in Bangladesh and found that while conventional treatment removed a significant portion of microplastics, treated water still contained plastic particles. Removal efficiency varied depending on the treatment process used, with some plants performing better than others. This highlights that current water treatment infrastructure may not fully protect people from microplastic exposure through drinking water.
Potable water boiling can induce havoc in the water quality management arena due to the presence of microplastics
Researchers reviewed growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics in drinking water present serious health and management challenges, warning that boiling water — the most widely used low-cost purification method — may actually worsen contamination by causing plastics to leach harmful chemicals, threatening safe drinking water access for billions of people.