Papers

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Article Tier 2

First evidence of microplastics in bottled water sold in Mexico

Researchers provided the first evidence of microplastic contamination in bottled water sold in Mexico, analyzing ten widely consumed commercial brands. They detected an average of 39.3 particles per liter, with most particles smaller than 500 micrometers, and PET and polypropylene were the dominant polymers, indicating that fragmentation of the bottles and caps is the primary contamination source. The study found that children are the most vulnerable population segment, with the highest relative microplastic intake normalized by body weight.

2026
Article Tier 2

Early screening of suspected microplastics in bottled water in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile

Researchers screened multiple brands of bottled water sold in Santiago, Chile, for microplastic contamination using fluorescence microscopy. They detected suspected microplastic particles in all tested brands, with concentrations varying significantly between products. The findings add to growing global evidence that bottled water, often perceived as a cleaner alternative to tap water, may be a meaningful source of human microplastic exposure.

2023 Environmental Pollution 28 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

A new method for counting and sizing microplastic particles in water: investigating the presence of microplastics in Iranian bottled water

Researchers developed a novel method for counting and sizing microplastic particles in bottled water using Nile Red fluorescent staining combined with direct microscopic counting. Testing Iranian bottled water brands revealed widespread microplastic contamination, with the new method providing a faster and more accessible alternative to spectroscopic identification for routine bottled water monitoring.

2024
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in commercially sold bottled water

Researchers used advanced infrared spectroscopy to measure microplastics in commercially sold bottled water in China. They found microplastic particles in the samples, with concentrations varying by brand and bottle type. The study adds to growing evidence that bottled water is a significant source of human microplastic exposure, and it estimated the amount people may be consuming daily through this route.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 132 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to micro(nano)plastics polymers in water stored in single-use plastic bottles.

Researchers quantified micro(nano)plastics ranging from 700 nm to 20 µm in bottled water from 20 popular Spanish brands, assessing daily consumer exposure risk and raising concern about the widespread presence of plastic polymer particles in single-use bottled water.

2023 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and non-natural cellulosic particles in Spanish bottled drinking water

Researchers analyzed five top-selling bottled water brands in Spain and found microplastics in all of them, primarily polyester and polyethylene particles likely originating from the PET bottles and caps. While the estimated daily intake from bottled water alone was relatively low, the study adds to evidence that bottled water is a consistent source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2024 Scientific Reports 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of Microplastic in Bottled Water from Mumbai Market

Researchers tested five top-selling bottled water brands in Mumbai and found microplastics in every single one, with particles averaging about 82 micrometers in size. The contamination was detected across all brands at similar concentrations, suggesting that bottled water — often marketed as pure — is a consistent route of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2024 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing exposure of the Australian population to microplastics through bottled water consumption

Researchers analyzed 16 brands of bottled water sold in Australia and found microplastics present across all samples tested. The study identified polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene particles, with concentrations varying between brands and water sources. The findings provide the first assessment of microplastic exposure through bottled water consumption for the Australian population and raise questions about the safety of this common drinking water source.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Assessment of Human Exposure to Microplastic Particles in Bottled Water From Southwest, Nigeria

Researchers tested eight brands of bottled water from southwest Nigeria and found microplastics in all of them, averaging about 15 particles per liter, mostly in the form of fibers. Children were estimated to consume three to four times more microplastics per kilogram of body weight than adults from bottled water. The study adds to growing evidence that bottled water is a significant source of human microplastic exposure, especially for children.

2025 Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 6 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

Occurrence and characterization of microplastics in bottled drinking water

Researchers analyzed microplastics in ten bottled water brands and found up to nine microplastic particles per liter, estimating that people who drink only bottled water may ingest over 150 microplastic particles per year — with polypropylene and polystyrene being the most common types found.

2024 Discover Environment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of nano-plastics in bottled drinking water.

Researchers detected nanoplastics in commercially bottled drinking water using novel nanoparticle analysis techniques, finding particles in the nanometer size range in multiple brands. These findings are concerning because nanoplastics are thought to be more biologically active than larger microplastics and can more easily cross biological barriers in the body.

2022 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

FTIR-Based Identification of Microplastics in Commercial Bottled Drinking Water

Scientists found tiny plastic particles in all 10 brands of bottled water they tested, using a special technique to identify the plastic types. These microplastics likely come from the plastic bottles and packaging process itself. While we don't yet know the full health effects of drinking these plastic particles, this study shows that even bottled water isn't free from plastic pollution.

2026 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
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

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

Microplastic as an written composition in bottled water: Implications for waste management

This study characterized microplastic contamination in bottled water, identifying common polymer types and particle sizes and discussing implications for waste management and the effectiveness of current filtration in bottling facilities.

2024 Waste Handling and Environmental Monitoring.
Article Tier 2

Quantitative image analysis of microplastics in bottled water following Nile Red staining and fluorescence microscopy

Researchers developed and validated an integrated method for quantifying microplastics in bottled water using Nile Red staining, fluorescent microscopy, and automated image analysis with partial filter interrogation to boost analysis throughput. The method demonstrated high sensitivity for sizing microplastics down to 10 micrometers, with a limit of detection of 1.1 ppb, limit of quantification of 3.4 ppb, linearity between 10 ppb and 1.5 ppm (R2 = 0.99), and repeatability of 11-12% RSD.

2022 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Potential Health Risks Due to Trihalomethanes and Microplastics in Bottled Water

Researchers found microplastics and trihalomethanes in all tested Indian bottled water brands, with microplastic counts of 20-127 particles per liter and estimated yearly microplastic intake of 153 grams per person through bottled water consumption.

2022 Environmental Engineering Science 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Estimated exposure to microplastics through national and local brands of bottled water in Central India

Researchers tested bottled water from national and local brands in central India and found microplastics in every single sample, with local brands containing about three times more than national brands. The most common particles were polyethylene and PET fragments, likely coming from the plastic bottles and caps themselves. The study estimated that people drinking bottled water in India could be consuming tens of thousands of microplastic particles per year, highlighting bottled water as a significant source of human exposure.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water

Researchers tested 259 bottles of water from 11 major brands purchased across nine countries and found microplastic contamination in 93% of samples. The most common particles were fragments, with polypropylene from bottle caps being the dominant polymer type identified. The study suggests that bottled water is a widespread source of human microplastic exposure, with contamination likely occurring during the packaging process.

2018 Frontiers in Chemistry 986 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Drinking Water

This review examines published evidence on microplastic presence in tap water, bottled water, and drinking water treatment plants, summarizing known pathways by which microplastics enter drinking water supplies and discussing potential human health impacts and future research priorities.

2025
Article Tier 2

Detecting and Quantifying Microplastics in Bottled Water using Fluorescence Microscopy: A New Experiment for Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry Courses

This educational lab exercise teaches students to detect and count microplastics in bottled water using fluorescence microscopy and Nile Red staining. The exercise demonstrates that bottled water is a real exposure source and builds scientific literacy around microplastic contamination.

2019 Journal of Chemical Education 41 citations
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