Papers

20 results
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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
Review Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in tap and bottled water, and food packaging: A narrative review on current knowledge

This narrative review compiled findings on microplastic contamination in tap water, bottled water, and food packaging. Researchers found that various types of microplastic fragments have been detected in drinking water sources worldwide, with bottled water generally containing more particles than tap water. The review highlights that food packaging is an additional source of daily microplastic exposure, underscoring the need for better monitoring and regulation.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 185 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Drinking Water: A Review

This review summarized current research on microplastic contamination in drinking water, covering detection methods, occurrence data, and health implications. The authors found microplastics widely present in tap and bottled water worldwide and noted that conventional treatment processes remove them incompletely, raising ongoing concerns about chronic low-level human ingestion.

2025 Journal of Health Science and Pharmacy
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

Microplastic pollution in drinking water

This review examines what is known about microplastic contamination in both tap and bottled drinking water around the world. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected in drinking water at many locations, the reported concentrations vary enormously, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about relative risk. The study highlights the urgent need for standardized sampling and analysis methods to produce reliable and comparable data on microplastics in the water we drink.

2021 Current Opinion in Toxicology 117 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence and implications of microplastics in potable water system: An update

This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic contamination in drinking water systems worldwide, covering sources, detection methods, and potential health implications. Researchers found that microplastics are present in both tap and bottled water, with fibers and fragments being the most common types detected. The study highlights the need for standardized testing methods and regulatory limits to protect public health from microplastic exposure through drinking water.

2023 Chemosphere 47 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

Insights into human exposure to microplastics through drinking water: Current state of the science

This review analyzed 66 studies on microplastics in drinking water from 2018 to 2023 and found that tap water actually contained more microplastics on average (about 62 particles per liter) than bottled water (about 38 particles per liter). Most particles were small fragments and fibers made of common plastics like PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The researchers estimate that people ingest roughly 175 microplastic particles per day just from drinking water alone.

2024 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Source of Microplastics Contamination in Drinking Water and Performance of Water Treatment Plants in Removing Microplastics

This review summarizes evidence that microplastics are present in both tap water and bottled water worldwide, with bottled water frequently contaminated by particles shed from the plastic packaging itself. Conventional water treatment plants remove between 40% and 93% of microplastics but cannot eliminate them entirely, meaning treated drinking water still carries measurable plastic loads. The chapter highlights the irony that plastic packaging intended to deliver clean water is itself a major source of microplastic contamination.

2023
Review Tier 2

A review on the detection of micro and nano plastics in drinking water

This review assessed detection methods for micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water, covering both tap and bottled water where these contaminants have been widely documented. The authors evaluated current analytical techniques and identified gaps in standardized monitoring approaches.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Review Tier 2

A review on the detection of micro and nano plastics in drinking water

This review covered detection methodologies for micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water, including both tap and bottled water sources. The authors synthesized current analytical approaches and highlighted the need for standardized methods across studies.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Refillable and Packaged Drinking Water: Sources, Types, and Health Impacts

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in both refillable and packaged drinking water, examining sources, types, and health implications. The review found microplastics are consistently present in both water types, with packaging materials and distribution infrastructure identified as key contamination sources.

2025 Proceeding of International Seminar and Workshop on Public Health Action
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Drinking Water: Assessing Occurrence and Potential Risks

This review paper examines how widespread microplastics are in drinking water — from rivers and lakes to groundwater — and what health risks this contamination may pose. The authors call for urgent research into how microplastics move through water treatment systems and ultimately reach taps, emphasizing that current sampling and analytical methods are inconsistent, making it hard to compare studies or set safety thresholds. For people drinking tap or bottled water daily, understanding and regulating this exposure pathway is a pressing public health priority.

2023 Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic Microplastics in UK tap and bottled water; Implications for human exposure

Researchers tested 177 tap water samples from 13 UK cities and 85 bottled water samples from 17 brands, finding microplastics in every single sample with no meaningful difference in average concentration between tap and bottled water. Infants and toddlers were estimated to ingest four times more microplastics per kilogram of body weight than adults, raising concerns given their still-developing immune and nervous systems.

2024 Emerging contaminants 25 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.
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics in water, from treatment process to drinking water: analytical methods and potential health effects

This systematic review examines how microplastics travel through the water treatment process from raw water sources to your tap and bottled water. The researchers present methods for detecting these particles and assess potential health impacts of drinking microplastic-contaminated water. The findings suggest that current water treatment may not fully remove microplastics, meaning ongoing low-level exposure through drinking water is likely.

2022 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 13 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Occurrence, Characteristics, and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Tap Water and Bottled Water, China

This systematic review found microplastic contamination in both tap water and bottled water across China, with bottled water showing especially high levels — up to nearly 9,000 particles per liter for the smallest sizes. Fibers and fragments were the most common forms, and packaging degradation was a major contributor in bottled water. The findings raise practical concerns about microplastic exposure from the water we drink every day.

2025 Environmental Quality Management 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into Anthropogenic Micro- and Nanoplastic Accumulation in Drinking Water Sources and Their Potential Effects on Human Health

This review examines the growing body of evidence on micro- and nanoplastic contamination in drinking water sources, including both tap water and bottled water intended for human consumption. Researchers summarize the potential health effects of exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, noting that current detection methods struggle with particles smaller than 10 micrometers. The study highlights the need for improved analytical tools and further research to fully understand the health implications of plastic particles in drinking water.

2023 Polymers 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and nanoplastics contamination in raw and treated water

Researchers analyzed 189 samples of raw, tap, and bottled drinking water for micro- and nanoplastic contamination. They found plastic particles in every sample tested, with raw water sources containing the highest concentrations and treated tap water containing the lowest, though contamination was never fully eliminated. The study suggests that current water treatment processes reduce but do not completely remove plastic particles from drinking water.

2023 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in drinking water: a macro issue

This review examines the growing concern of microplastic contamination in drinking water sources, noting that microplastics are found not only in oceans but also in freshwater and tap water. The study highlights that beyond direct harm, microplastics can act as carriers for other contaminants, making their presence in drinking water a significant issue for human health.

2022 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 72 citations