Papers

61,005 results
|
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

Microplastics in drinking water not risky

The World Health Organization assessed microplastics in drinking water and concluded that current levels do not pose a health risk, while recommending improved treatment methods and more research. The WHO notably advised against routine monitoring of microplastics in drinking water at this stage, a position some researchers have critiqued.

2019 C&EN Global Enterprise
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

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

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

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

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

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

Microplastics in water: diagnosis and human health risk analysis

This systematic review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in drinking water and assesses the potential risks to human health. The findings confirm that microplastics are present in water intended for consumption, and while the exact health effects are still being studied, the evidence suggests we should take precautions to reduce our exposure.

2023 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Potential Health Risks from Microplastics in Drinking Water

This review assesses the potential human health risks of microplastics in drinking water, noting that while microplastics are widely detected, the health effects at typical exposure levels remain poorly understood. The authors call for improved risk assessment methods and drinking water monitoring standards.

2021 UWSpace (University of Waterloo)
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
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
Review Tier 2

Human Exposures to Micro- and Nanoplastics in Water and Data Needed to Understand Potential Health Effects—A-State of the Science Review

This review assessed the current evidence on human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water, tap water, and bottled water. Researchers found that the lack of standardized sampling and analytical methods makes accurate comparisons between studies difficult, and that current water treatment systems are not designed to remove these particles. The study identifies critical data gaps that need to be addressed before reliable health risk assessments can be conducted.

2025 Microplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nano-Plastics in Drinking Water: Threat or Hype? Critical State-of-the-Art Analysis of Risks and Approaches

This analysis critically reviewed the evidence on whether microplastics and nanoplastics in drinking water pose genuine health risks to humans. Researchers found that while contamination is widespread, definitive proof that microplastics cause harm at real-world environmental concentrations has not yet been established. The study examines advanced water treatment technologies and calls for improved detection methods and more realistic exposure studies before drawing firm conclusions about health threats.

2025 Journal of Xenobiotics 4 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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic contamination of drinking water: A systematic review

This systematic review is one of the first to comprehensively assess microplastic contamination in drinking water and estimate how much people are exposed to. The researchers recommend adopting the precautionary principle to address potential health concerns, emphasizing that more standardized research is urgently needed to understand the risks of consuming microplastics in tap and bottled water.

2020 PLoS ONE 313 citations
Review Tier 2

Human Health Effects of Microplastics in Drinking Water: A Review

This review summarizes evidence on the potential health effects of microplastics found in drinking water, including tap and bottled sources. Possible concerns include physical irritation and chemical toxicity from plastic additives, though direct health impacts in humans remain uncertain.

2021 ЗДОРОВЬЕ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ И СРЕДА ОБИТАНИЯ - ЗНиСО / PUBLIC HEALTH AND LIFE ENVIRONMENT 3 citations
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

Microplastics in Drinking Water:Current Knowledge, Quality Assuranceand Future Directions

This review synthesizes current knowledge on microplastics in drinking water, covering their occurrence in source waters, behavior during treatment processes, and potential health implications. Researchers found that while drinking water treatment plants remove a portion of microplastics, standardized quality assurance methods are still lacking. The study calls for improved monitoring protocols and treatment technologies to better address microplastic contamination in tap water.

2024 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 3 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
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)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics (mps) in Drinking Water: Uses, Sources and Transport

This paper reviews the sources, transport pathways, and health hazards of microplastic particles in drinking water, noting that MPs enter freshwater systems through wastewater effluent, stormwater runoff, degraded plastic waste, atmospheric deposition, and industrial discharge. The study provides accessible background on analytical detection methods and underscores that microplastics in tap and bottled water represent a direct, daily human exposure route.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A standard analytical approach and establishing criteria for microplastic concentrations in wastewater, drinking water and tap water

This study proposes standardized methods and concentration benchmarks for measuring microplastics in wastewater, drinking water, and tap water. The researchers found that current studies use widely varying techniques, making it difficult to compare results or set safety limits. Establishing consistent measurement standards is a critical first step toward determining what levels of microplastics in drinking water may pose risks to human health.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in drinking water treatment plants, distribution systems, water from refill kiosks, tap waters and bottled waters

This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination across the entire drinking water supply chain, from treatment plants to tap water and bottled water. Microplastics were found at every stage, with concentrations varying widely depending on location and treatment methods. The findings highlight that people are regularly consuming microplastics through their drinking water, though more standardized research is needed to fully understand the health implications.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 82 citations