Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Filling Discrepancies between Consumer Perception and Actual Piped Water Quality to Promote the Potable Use of the Municipal Water Supply in Indonesia

This paper is not about environmental microplastics in an ecological or health context; it studies consumer trust and drinking water preferences in Indonesian cities to encourage tap water use over bottled water, with the plastic waste angle being secondary and policy-focused rather than scientific.

2024 Sustainability 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Self-Reported Consumption of Bottled Water v. Tap Water in Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Kentucky

Not relevant to microplastics — this study examines self-reported bottled water versus tap water consumption preferences among Appalachian Kentuckians, focusing on public trust in drinking water rather than microplastic contamination.

2024 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Perceptions on Drinking Water and Wastewater in a Local Area in Western Romania

This survey study found that most residents in three western Romanian towns had little awareness of their local tap water quality or planned infrastructure upgrades, with nearly 75% unaware of upcoming investments. The findings highlight a public knowledge gap about water safety that is relevant to discussions of drinking water contamination, including emerging pollutants like microplastics.

2023 Applied Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

How Perceptions of Trust, Risk, Tap Water Quality, and Salience Characterize Drinking Water Choices

Researchers examined how trust in water utilities, risk perceptions, and awareness of tap water quality shape household drinking water choices, finding that distrust driven by historical contamination events leads consumers to increase bottled water use even when tap water meets safety standards.

2021 Hydrology 40 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impacts of Environmental Knowledge on Aqua Product Purchase: The Role of Environmental Concerns

Researchers examined how environmental knowledge and environmental concerns influence bottled water purchasing behavior among residents of Bandung, Indonesia, focusing on the Aqua brand as a proxy for plastic-packaged aqua products. Results indicate that stronger environmental awareness correlates with altered purchase decisions, highlighting the role of consumer education in reducing plastic consumption.

2024 Journal of System and Management Sciences
Article Tier 2

Analytical Review of Microplastics Occurrence in Bottled Water, Tap Water, and Wastewater Treatment Plants

This review analyzes microplastic contamination across bottled water, tap water, and wastewater treatment plants using data from studies worldwide. Researchers found that microplastic levels in drinking water are closely tied to the water source and that packaging type significantly influences contamination, with glass bottles recommended over plastic. The study emphasizes the need for improved water treatment technologies and greater public awareness about microplastic exposure through drinking water.

2024 E3S Web of Conferences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Consumption of Tap Water and Sociodemographic-Associated Characteristics: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

This nationwide cross-sectional study examined tap water consumption patterns and associated sociodemographic factors in Italy. The study analyzed data from over 45,000 respondents, exploring how education, income, and regional factors relate to tap versus bottled water consumption, with implications for reducing plastic bottle waste.

2024 Preprints.org 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and public health risk assessment of microplastics in disposable (PET) bottled water produced and sold locally in the Aegean Region

Researchers detected microplastics in locally produced PET bottled water in Turkey's Aegean Region, raising public health concerns about consumer exposure to plastic particles through a widely consumed drinking water source.

2022 Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparing in-home and bottled drinking water quality: regulated and emerging contaminants in rural Central Appalachia

Researchers analyzed regulated and emerging contaminants including bacteria, inorganic ions, PFAS, and microplastics in 23 in-home, 4 roadside spring, and 36 bottled drinking water samples from rural Central Appalachia. They found that coliform bacteria and elevated sodium levels occurred in 52% of home water samples, while PFAS and microplastics were detected across all water source types, complicating the assumption that bottled water is consistently safer than in-home supplies.

2025 Journal of Water and Health
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Risk Perception on Microplastics Pollution in Drinking Water Sources

Researchers surveyed higher education students to assess their risk perception of microplastic pollution in drinking water sources and measured relationships between perception, concern, and behavioral intention to reduce plastic use. The study aimed to identify knowledge gaps and inform awareness campaigns targeting informed plastic reduction behavior among young adults.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Malaysian bottled water brands: Occurrence and potential human exposure

Researchers tested eight major bottled water brands sold in Malaysia and found microplastic particles in all of them, with concentrations varying significantly between brands. The most common types were fragments and fibers made of polyethylene and polypropylene. The study estimates daily microplastic intake from bottled water consumption and highlights the need for quality standards addressing microplastic contamination in drinking water.

2022 Environmental Pollution 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in small semi-industrial desalination stations and bottled waters: Human exposure and emerging health concerns

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in bottled water and small semi-industrial desalination stations in a water-scarce region. The study found microplastics present in both water sources, with higher levels than expected in desalination station output, raising concerns about human exposure through drinking water and highlighting the need for improved filtration standards.

2026 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastics in Bottled Water

Researchers detected microplastics in bottled water samples from Sarawak, Malaysia, contributing to the limited data on bottled water contamination in Southeast Asia and highlighting potential human exposure through a widely consumed beverage.

2021 Materials science forum 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Kandungan Mikroplastik Pada Air Minum Dalam Kemasan (AMDK) yang Beredar di Semarang, Jawa Tengah

This Indonesian study detected and characterized microplastics in bottled drinking water (AMDK) sold in Semarang, Central Java. Bottled water is widely consumed as a supposedly hygienic alternative to tap water, making findings of microplastic contamination in this product category particularly relevant to understanding direct human ingestion pathways.

2023 METANA 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Drinking plastic: a study of microplastic concentrations in drinking water from rural and urban sources in Mali, Africa

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in drinking water from rural and urban sources in Mali, Africa, finding microplastics in all samples and identifying higher concentrations in urban supplies, with implications for human health in a region with limited water treatment infrastructure.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in bottled water: assessing drinking safety in Nepal

Researchers quantified microplastics in 17 brands of bottled drinking water from five provinces of Nepal using vacuum filtration, finding particles in all brands with concentrations and polymer types suggesting contamination during bottling and from cap materials.

2025 Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics in Tap and Bottled Water: Current Knowledge

This review summarizes current research on microplastic contamination in both tap and bottled drinking water. Researchers found that microplastics are present in both water sources, with bottled water generally containing higher concentrations than tap water, and smaller particles being more abundant. The study raises public health concerns and emphasizes the need for improved detection methods and drinking water treatment standards.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 184 citations
Article Tier 2

First evidence of microplastics and their characterization in bottled drinking water from a developing country

Scientists in a developing country analyzed 10 brands of bottled drinking water and found microplastics in all samples, with concentrations varying by brand. The most common particles were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers, likely originating from the plastic bottle caps and packaging. This study adds to evidence that bottled water is a significant source of daily microplastic intake for people worldwide.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Water Consumption Habits of a North-Western Turkish Community: A Cross-Sectional Study

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey of 432 residents at a family health center in northwestern Turkey to characterize community drinking water preferences, finding significant associations between water source choice and age, sex, and marital status, with bottled and spring water preferred by younger adults.

2022 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Analysis of packaged drinking water use in Indonesia in the last decades: trends, socio-economic determinants, and safety aspect

Analysis of Indonesian national survey data showed that packaged drinking water (PDW) consumption has grown at 1.24% per year since 2000, with socioeconomic status being the strongest predictor of consumption. Systematic literature review identified microplastic contamination and chemical leaching from plastic containers as key safety concerns for the 50% of Indonesians projected to use PDW by 2026.

2022 Water Policy 8 citations
Article Tier 2

First assessment of occurrence, characteristics and human exposure of microplastics in bottled drinking water, Nepal

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastics in bottled drinking water from Nepal's mountain, hill, and Terai regions, finding microplastics in all 35 samples tested (mean 118 items/L), with fiber-shaped particles dominating at 71.76%, establishing a baseline for this developing-country context.

2025 Cleaner Water
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Source of Microplastics Contamination in Drinking Water and Performance of Water Treatment Plants in Removing Microplastics

This review summarizes evidence that microplastics are present in both tap water and bottled water worldwide, with bottled water frequently contaminated by particles shed from the plastic packaging itself. Conventional water treatment plants remove between 40% and 93% of microplastics but cannot eliminate them entirely, meaning treated drinking water still carries measurable plastic loads. The chapter highlights the irony that plastic packaging intended to deliver clean water is itself a major source of microplastic contamination.

2023
Article Tier 2

A review on the presence of microplastics in Asian water and health consequences

Researchers reviewed studies from across Asia and found microplastics in virtually every type of freshwater source — rivers, lakes, tap water, groundwater, and bottled water — with concentrations varying widely by country, raising public health concerns especially where waste management infrastructure is limited.

2025 Discover Environment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Ubiquity of Microplastics in Drinking Water: An Update on Its Assessment and Impact

This review documents the widespread presence of microplastics in drinking water worldwide — including both tap and bottled water — and examines the potential health impacts of ingesting these particles. Current evidence shows microplastics are present in essentially all drinking water supplies at levels that cause concern, though the long-term health effects remain under investigation. The review calls for improved water treatment and reduced plastic use as parallel strategies to address the problem.

2021 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)