Papers

20 results
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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

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

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

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 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

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

Prevalence and health risks of microplastics in bottled water and beverages: A food safety concern

This review consolidates evidence on microplastic contamination in bottled water and commercial beverages, finding concentrations ranging from a handful to several hundred particles per liter depending on packaging material and beverage type. The most commonly detected polymers were PET, polypropylene, and polyethylene, primarily from bottle degradation and bottling processes, with children and frequent consumers facing increased exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics 1 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Microplastics in Arctic invertebrates: status on occurrence and recommendations for future monitoring

Researchers used fluorescence microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to characterize microplastics in bottled water from 11 brands sold in China. Concentrations ranged widely across brands, with polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene as the most detected polymers.

2022 Arctic Science 18 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

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

Quantification of microplastics in bottled water by Pyr-GC-Orbitrap-MS, human exposure, and in vitro hepatotoxicity assessment

Researchers analyzed 40 bottled water brands from five countries and found microplastics in 31 of them, primarily from bottle cap materials (HDPE plastic) rather than the PET bottles themselves, with the average adult exposure estimated at a very low 0.004 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day — and lab tests showed this level caused no detectable liver cell damage.

2025 Food Control 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Small-sized microplastics and pigmented particles in bottled mineral water

Researchers tested bottled mineral water and found microplastics and pigmented particles present, suggesting that plastic packaging itself may be a source of contamination in commercially sold water.

2018 Water Research 936 citations