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

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

Self-Reported Consumption of Bottled Water v. Tap Water in Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Kentucky

Not relevant to microplastics — this study examines self-reported bottled water versus tap water consumption preferences among Appalachian Kentuckians, focusing on public trust in drinking water rather than microplastic contamination.

2024 PubMed 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

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

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

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

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

Green Marketing, Lifestyle, and the Purchase Intention of Bottled Water among Generation Z

This study analyzed how green marketing and lifestyle factors influence Generation Z consumers' intention to purchase bottled water. Bottled water is a major source of microplastic exposure, as plastic bottles shed particles into the liquid inside over time.

2023 East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research 1 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

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

Theory of planned behavior to analyze students’ intentions in consuming tap water

This study found that Indonesian students largely preferred tap water over bottled water, with the theory of planned behavior identifying perceived safety, environmental concern, and habit as key drivers of tap water consumption.

2023 Eurasia Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Consumption of Bottled Water and Chronic Diseases: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Researchers analyzed data from over 45,000 Italian adults to examine whether regular consumption of bottled water is associated with chronic health conditions. The study evaluated connections between bottled water use and conditions including hypertension and digestive disorders, given that bottled water has been found to contain an average of 240,000 tiny plastic particles per liter. The findings contribute to growing questions about whether everyday microplastic exposure through common consumer products may have long-term health implications.

2024 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 7 citations
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

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

Making Europe go from bottles to the tap: Political and societal attempts to induce behavioral change

This review examines European political efforts to promote tap water consumption over bottled water, including the EU's revised Drinking Water Directive, and assesses how promising these strategies are based on behavioral research. The most evidence-backed interventions target taste and safety perceptions and improve physical access to tap water.

2020 Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Trust in Drinking Water Quality: Understanding the Role of Risk Perception and Transparency

A representative Dutch survey using traditional and modern segmentation approaches found that while general public trust in tap water is high, distinct consumer segments — particularly health-conscious and quality-focused groups — express specific concerns about emerging contaminants like microplastics and pharmaceuticals.

2020 Water 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Drinking natural water unchangeably is associated with reduced all-cause mortality in elderly people: A longitudinal prospective study from China

Researchers found in a longitudinal prospective study of elderly Chinese people that those who continued drinking natural water throughout their lives had lower all-cause mortality compared to those who switched to tap water, though the authors note the need for verification across different populations.

2022 Frontiers in Public Health 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Perceptions on Drinking Water and Wastewater in a Local Area in Western Romania

This survey study found that most residents in three western Romanian towns had little awareness of their local tap water quality or planned infrastructure upgrades, with nearly 75% unaware of upcoming investments. The findings highlight a public knowledge gap about water safety that is relevant to discussions of drinking water contamination, including emerging pollutants like microplastics.

2023 Applied Sciences 1 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

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

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

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

Mitigating microplastic exposure from water consumption in junior high students and teachers

Microplastic consumption from different water sources by 57 junior high students and 26 teachers in Calgary, Alberta was estimated, and the impact of awareness campaigns on water source choice was examined. Students and teachers consumed estimated average MPs from water sources, with awareness promotion influencing their selection of lower-MP water options.

2024 Journal of Emerging Investigators