Your water bottle carries millions of nanoplastics every day, study finds

Your water bottle carries millions of nanoplastics every day, study finds

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from Columbia University and Rutgers University has shed light on the presence of nearly a quarter of a million invisible nanoplastics in the average liter of bottled water. While it was already known that microscopic plastic particles existed in bottled water, the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has quantified their presence for the first time.

The researchers used a newly-developed laser technology, enabling the detection of even the tiniest plastic fragments. The study revealed that the particle levels ranged between 110,000 and 400,000 plastic pieces per liter, with an average of approximately 240,000. This technological advancement increased the detectable plastic particles by more than tenfold and, in some cases, up to 100 times.

The plastics identified in the bottled water exhibited various sizes, shapes, and distributions, indicating their sources. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common material for bottles, appeared as chunky micrometer-sized shards. The study also identified polyamide and polystyrene plastics, which are ironically used as membrane materials in water treatment plants.

The researchers, however, have yet to determine the potential health risks posed by these nanoplastics. Study co-author Phoebe Stapleton, a toxicologist at Rutgers, emphasized that ongoing research is assessing the impact of these particles on cells and tissues. While the dangers remain unclear, all four co-authors acknowledged their intention to reduce their use of bottled water in light of the study’s findings. The study serves as a crucial step toward understanding and addressing the pervasive issue of plastic contamination in everyday consumer products.