Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

Public Perception of Drinking Water Quality in an Arsenic-Affected Region: Implications for Sustainable Water Management

Researchers surveyed residents in an arsenic-affected region of Serbia about their perceptions of tap water quality and found that most had a negative view, which closely matched actual water contamination levels. Over 43% of respondents purchased at least five liters of bottled water per week, and because Serbia has low plastic recycling rates, most of those bottles end up in landfills where they slowly break down into microplastics. The study highlights a cycle where water contamination drives bottled water consumption, which in turn contributes to plastic pollution.

2025 Water 2 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

Unequal trust: Bottled water consumption, distrust in tap water, and economic and racial inequality in the United States

This review examines why bottled water consumption in the United States follows racial and income lines, challenging the assumption that wealthier people drink more bottled water. Researchers found that lower-income communities and communities of color often rely on bottled water due to justified distrust of their tap water quality. The spending burden falls disproportionately on households that can least afford it, highlighting how water safety concerns intersect with economic and racial inequality.

2023 Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water 25 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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic exposure disparities in California communities through bottled water consumption

This systematic review found that bottled water contains significantly more microplastics than tap water, and that minority and lower-income communities in California who rely more heavily on bottled water face disproportionately higher exposure. The findings highlight that efforts to avoid contaminated tap water may actually increase microplastic intake.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
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

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

Determinants of single-use plastic bottled water consumption among university students: a cross-sectional study

A survey of university students found that convenience, habit, and accessibility were the primary drivers of single-use plastic bottled water consumption, with environmental knowledge having limited influence on behavior, suggesting that structural changes rather than awareness campaigns are needed to reduce plastic bottle use.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management
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

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

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 Italian survey examined who drinks tap water versus bottled water and what factors influence that choice. Researchers found that tap water consumption was higher among more educated, environmentally concerned individuals in northern regions, and the study suggests that promoting tap water could reduce plastic waste from bottled water while being associated with healthier dietary patterns.

2024 Nutrients 4 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

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

Nivel de aceptación de los tipos de agua envasada en la ciudad de Guayaquil

Researchers investigated consumer acceptance, preferences, and risk perceptions around bottled water consumption in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where distrust of tap water has driven significant growth in the bottled water market. Using a quantitative descriptive approach with adults over 18, the study identified key sociodemographic, consumption habit, and brand preference factors influencing purchasing decisions.

2025 RECIMUNDO
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

Assessment of vulnerabilities of central himalayan springs towards microplastic pollution.

This research assessed how vulnerable springs in the central Himalayas are to microplastic contamination, identifying environmental and geographic factors that increase exposure risk. Mountain springs are critical drinking water sources for millions of people, so understanding their susceptibility to plastic pollution has direct public health implications.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution and human risk assessment in Turkish bottled natural and mineral waters

This study analyzed 150 samples of bottled natural and mineral water sold in Turkey for microplastic contamination. Microplastics were found in all samples tested, with fibers being the most common type, and the study estimated the potential health risk to consumers. The results add to global evidence that bottled water is a consistent source of human microplastic ingestion, regardless of the country of origin.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of vulnerabilities of central himalayan springs towards microplastic pollution.

This research assessed how vulnerable springs in the central Himalayas are to microplastic contamination, identifying environmental and geographic factors that increase exposure risk. Mountain springs are critical drinking water sources for millions of people, so understanding their susceptibility to plastic pollution has direct public health implications.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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