Papers

61,005 results
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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

Characterization of microplastics in sediments and surface waters of Turkish lakes

Researchers surveyed seven lakes in Turkey and found microplastics in all of them, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Human activities like tourism, fishing, and urban waste disposal were identified as major sources, showing that even protected lake areas are contaminated with plastic particles that can enter drinking water supplies.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 12 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

Microplastic contamination in some beverages marketed in türkiye: Characteristics, dietary exposure and risk assessment

Researchers tested 47 different beverages sold in Turkey and found microplastics in about one in five samples, with cold tea showing the highest contamination levels. While the estimated daily intake from these beverages was considered a low physical health risk, the study confirms that packaged drinks are a routine source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2024 Food and Chemical Toxicology 32 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

Microplastic pollution of drinking water in a metropolis

Researchers analyzed 100 drinking water samples from various sources across Istanbul and found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations ranging from 10 to 390 particles per liter. Eight different polymer types were identified, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC, in both fiber and fragment forms. The findings indicate that drinking water in major metropolitan areas is a consistent pathway for human microplastic exposure.

2023 Journal of Water and Health 15 citations
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

Detection, Quantification, and Characterisation of Microplastics in Maltese Bottled Water

Researchers detected microplastics in 84% of bottled water samples from five Maltese brands at an average concentration of 35,877 ± 23,542 particles per litre, with an average particle diameter of 2.37 μm and polymers including polyurethane, polyethylene, and polymethyl methacrylate identified by Raman spectroscopy.

2025 Microplastics
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 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

Prevalence of microplastics in commercially sold soft drinks and human risk assessment

Researchers tested ten brands of soft drinks sold in Turkey and found microplastics in every single one, with 80% of samples showing high contamination levels. On average, consumers are exposed to about nine microplastic particles per liter of soft drink, likely originating from the bottling process and packaging materials. This study adds soft drinks to the growing list of everyday beverages through which people regularly consume microplastics.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in bottled water from Croatia: a Raman spectroscopy approach

Researchers analyzed six brands of bottled water sold in Croatia and found microplastics in all of them, with particles as small as 1 micrometer detected using Raman spectroscopy. The most commonly found plastics were PET and polyethylene, and interestingly, bottles made from virgin PET contained more microplastics than those made from recycled PET. The study adds to growing evidence that bottled water is a significant source of human microplastic exposure.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comparative Study About the Amount of Microplastic in Polyethylene Terephtalate (pet) Drinking Water That Was Exposed and Not Exposed by Sun at Environmental Health Laboratory of Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang at the Year 2020

Researchers compared the amount of microplastics released from different brands and conditions of PET water bottles, finding that UV exposure and bottle age affect how many particles leach into the water. This study highlights bottled water as a direct route of microplastic ingestion for consumers.

2020 Buletin Keslingmas 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution and Risk Assessment in Packaged Teas in Türkiye

Researchers analyzed 15 packaged tea brands in Turkey and found microplastics in every single one, with the highest concentrations in dry tea leaves removed from the bags. PET was the most common plastic type, and fiber-shaped particles dominated. The study calculated that daily tea drinkers are regularly consuming microplastics, with men potentially exposed to more than women due to higher consumption, raising questions about this overlooked route of human exposure.

2024 Water Air & Soil Pollution 15 citations
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

Smaller-sized micro-plastics (MPs) contamination in single-use PET-bottled water in Thailand.

This study quantified microplastics in ten brands of single-use PET-bottled water sold in Thailand, finding an average of 140 particles per liter using fluorescent staining. The results add to global evidence that bottled water is a consistent route of human microplastic exposure and suggest that plastic packaging is a likely contamination source.

2020 The Science of the total environment
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

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

First report of occurrence, distribution, and composition of microplastics in surface waters of the Sea of Marmara, Turkey

Researchers reported the first characterization of microplastic occurrence, distribution, and polymer composition in surface waters of the Sea of Marmara, Turkey, finding widespread contamination and identifying the types of plastics present in this heavily trafficked and enclosed marine system.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 99 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

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

Microplastic pollution and ecological risk assessment of a pond ecosystem

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in a freshwater pond in Turkey, finding particles at all five sampling stations across multiple size classes. The study contributes baseline data on microplastic pollution in inland freshwater ecosystems in the region, where such monitoring is still limited despite the potential for drinking water and wildlife exposure.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2 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

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