Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Bottled Water: An Evidence-Based Overview of Economic Viability, Environmental Impact, and Social Equity

This review analyzes the bottled water industry through the lens of sustainability, examining its economic growth, environmental footprint, and social equity implications. Researchers found that bottled water production involves significant energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, and generates substantial plastic packaging pollution including microplastic contamination. The study suggests that while the industry has made some voluntary sustainability commitments, the cumulative environmental and health costs of bottled water remain considerable compared to tap water alternatives.

2023 Sustainability 28 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Ethics of Manufacturing and Supplying Bottled Water: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines ethical concerns around bottled water, including microplastic contamination, environmental damage from plastic production, and unequal access to clean water. It highlights that bottled water can contain microplastics, making it a potential source of ongoing exposure for regular consumers.

2024 Sustainability 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Packaged Drinking Water on Consumer Health, Environment, and Market Trends

This report examines the health, environmental, and market dimensions of packaged drinking water, reviewing evidence on microplastic contamination and chemical leaching from plastic packaging alongside marketing practices and regulatory frameworks. It finds significant consumer health and environmental concerns and identifies gaps in regulatory oversight of the bottled water industry.

2025 INTERANTIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
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

The impact of environmental management on the growth of the bottled water industry in Indonesia (Case study: sales of disposable gallons)

This study investigated how environmental management practices affect plastic waste generation and microplastic pollution associated with agricultural and industrial operations. The findings suggest that stronger environmental governance leads to measurable reductions in plastic waste entering natural systems.

2024 Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic and Practice Studies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A Revision for the Different Reuses of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Water Bottles

This review examined different strategies for reusing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles, highlighting their significant carbon footprint and waste generation while exploring sustainable recycling and repurposing approaches to reduce plastic pollution.

2022 Sustainability 34 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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Worldwide bottled water occurrence of emerging contaminants: A review of the recent scientific literature

Microplastics in the 1-5 µm range are the most prevalent contaminants in bottled water, with water in plastic bottles consistently more contaminated than in glass bottles; while most other contaminant levels (pharmaceuticals, PFAS, BPA) fell below safety thresholds, synergistic effects of multiple contaminants remain unknown.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 251 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Factors influencing microplastic contamination in bottled drinking water in Indonesia: a systematic review

This systematic review found that bottled drinking water in Indonesia contains microplastics, with contamination levels influenced by packaging type, bottle material, and storage conditions. The findings raise health concerns because microplastics in drinking water can carry harmful chemicals and may affect the digestive system when consumed regularly.

2023 Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat
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

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

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

Evaluation of occurrence of organic, inorganic, and microbial contaminants in bottled drinking water and comparison with international guidelines: a worldwide review

This review evaluated contaminants in bottled drinking water worldwide, finding that organic compounds, trace elements, microbial agents, and microplastics were detected across studies, with some exceeding WHO and EPA permissible limits.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Sources of Microplastic Contamination in PET Bottled Drinking Water: A Life Cycle Perspective

This study traces the sources of microplastic contamination in PET bottled drinking water across the product life cycle, identifying raw pellet spillage during shipping, manufacturing processes, bottle filling and capping operations, and bottle reuse as successive contamination pathways.

2025 Applied and Computational Engineering
Article Tier 2

A Critical Analysis of the Rising Global Demand of Plastics and its Adverse Impact on Environmental Sustainability

This critical review examined global trends in plastic demand and mismanaged plastic waste, identifying the top contributing countries and evaluating plastic replacement alternatives, arguing that reducing consumption and improving waste management infrastructure are more impactful than material substitution alone.

2021 Journal of Environmental Pollution and Management 32 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

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

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

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

Plastic Waste Management: Global Facts, Challenges and Solutions

This review summarised global statistics and challenges in plastic waste management, noting that most plastic waste ends up in landfill, with recycling remaining the least implemented disposal method. The authors highlighted that plastic degradation in terrestrial and aquatic environments produces microplastics that can enter human bodies through the food chain, skin-contact products, and bottled water, and outlined current and emerging solutions to the global plastic waste crisis.

2020 12 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics contamination in water supply system and treatment processes

This systematic review found that microplastics are frequently detected in drinking and bottled water despite current treatment technologies, and that no existing method can completely remove them. Integrating advanced treatment approaches with life-cycle assessment and machine learning is needed to address this pervasive contamination of water supply systems.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 27 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

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)
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