Papers

61,005 results
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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

Analysis of the presence of microplastics in different brands of bottled water in Regional 6 - Ecuador

Researchers analyzed 72 water samples from four brands of bottled water in Ecuador's Region 6 for microplastic content using FTIR spectroscopy. Microplastic fibers and fragments were found in all brands, with one brand averaging 233.1 particles per liter and polyethylene as the most frequently identified polymer type.

2025 Revista Colombiana de Química
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

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

Análise da presença de microplásticos em diferentes marcas de água engarrafada na região 6 - Equador

Researchers analyzed 72 bottled water samples from four brands in Ecuador's Region 6 for microplastic contamination using FTIR spectroscopy, finding fibers and fragments in all brands with sizes from 4.4–840 µm. Polyethylene was the dominant polymer and one brand had significantly higher MP concentrations, averaging 233.1 particles per liter.

2025 Magazine Portal Bibliotech Digital (Universidad Nacional de Colombia)
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

Preliminary study of microplastic in bottled drinking water

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in five brands of bottled drinking water from South Tangerang, Indonesia, using digital microscopy and micro-FTIR analysis. All samples were contaminated, predominantly with cellulose-based fibres ranging 0.042-3.668 mm in length, while neither polypropylene from packaging nor polyethylene from bottle caps was detected.

2023 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in water bottled in different packaging by Raman spectroscopy

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in bottled water from different packaging types using Raman spectroscopy, confirming that plastic contamination occurs across various commercial water bottle materials.

2023 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology 14 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

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

What's in your water? A comparative analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in treated drinking water and bottled water

Researchers developed a novel method to detect both micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water using scanning electron microscopy and advanced infrared spectroscopy capable of identifying particles as small as 300 nanometers. The study found that bottled water had significantly higher concentrations of plastic particles than treated tap water, particularly for smaller micro- and nanoplastics, with polyamide, PET, and polyethylene being the most common polymers.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 1 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

Study of Analysis Method on Microplastic Identification in Bottled Drinking Water

This study tested two methods for identifying microplastics in bottled drinking water using FTIR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Microplastics were successfully detected, adding to evidence that bottled water is a source of human microplastic ingestion.

2020 Macromolecular Symposia 35 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 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

Rapid analytical method for characterization and quantification of microplastics in tap water using a Fourier-transform infrared microscope

Researchers developed a faster FTIR microscope method for analyzing microplastics across the whole filtration area and applied it to 42 tap water samples from five countries, finding mean concentrations of 39 particles per liter with polyester fibers and PVC fragments among the most common types.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 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

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

Occurrence and size distribution study of microplastics in household water from different cities in continental Spain and the Canary Islands

Researchers sampled tap water from 24 locations across mainland Spain and the Canary Islands to measure microplastic contamination in household drinking water. They found an average of about 12.5 microplastic particles per cubic meter of tap water, with synthetic fibers being the most common type detected. The study provides one of the first standardized comparisons of drinking water microplastic levels across multiple cities within a single country.

2023 Water Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic characteristics in bottled drinking water and air deposition samples using laser direct infrared imaging

Researchers used a rapid laser-based detection method to measure microplastics in bottled water and indoor air, finding an average of 96 plastic particles per liter in bottled water and detecting that indoor textiles are a major source of microplastic particles that settle onto food during meals.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 96 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

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

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