Scanning bottled water with a newly invented electron microscope, scientists have discovered an alarming number of plastic nanoparticles floating inside. These virtually invisible particles pose a risk to human health once ingested.
Plastic is here, plastic is there, plastic is everywhere. Yep, even inside you.
Those startled by the recent news that Britain’s tap water contains carcinogenic PFAs and other toxic ‘forever chemicals’ may have promptly started swapping a quick refill at the sink for purchased bottled water.
New studies show, however, that drinking bottled water isn’t the healthiest option either. A close look with an electron microscope has revealed that a 1L plastic bottle of water contains around 240,000 otherwise invisible plastic particles, which is 10-100x more than previously estimated.
These particles are known as nanoplastics. They are thousands of times smaller than microplastics, measurable in billionths of a meter. As a result of their size (or lackthereof) they can pass directly into the bloodstream and then to vital organs, including the heart & brain.
The finding was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.
The researchers analysed three different brands supplying bottled water globally.
They refused to disclose which companies they investigated because they believed the results would be similar across all bottled water, regardless of the brand.
Using a technique called Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy – a process recently invented by one of the paper’s co-authors – samples were probed with two lasers tuned to make specific molecules resonate. This information was then fed to a computer algorithm.
When analysing the results, they were able to identify between 110,000 to 370,000 particles per litre. At least 90 percent of these particles were nanoplastics small enough to enter the human bloodstream, while the rest were microplastics.
The most common type of nanoplastic found in bottled water was nylon, which the researchers believe is likely a result of the filtration process aimed at purification.
Another plastic, known as polyethylene terephthalate or PET, was also present in the bottled water samples. This is suspected to end up in the water from the bottle it is housed in, shedding when bottles are squeezed or when the top is removed and placed back on.
Amongst these were unidentified nanoparticles. If any of these are also nanoplastics, the prevalence of plastic in bottled water could be even higher than originally estimated.
Should we be worried?
Although there is a limited scientific understanding of how nanoplastics impact natural ecosystems and human health, a growing body of research is branding these substances as toxic.
Current lab results suggest that they may result in chronic gastrointestinal issues as well as reproductive abnormalities, as nanoplastics can pass through the placenta of pregnant women.
Still, experts say people should not avoid drinking bottled water if that is the only thing available to them. The immediate and severe consequences of being dehydrated are far more of a worry than nanoplastics are.
As part of its future research, the team is planning to investigate whether nanoparticles can be found in tap water, which is known to contain microplastics – albeit in much smaller quantities.
Unfortunately, it’s starting to feel like nowhere on Earth is safe from the plastics we have yet to phase out. Looking to the future, let’s hope that bioplastics see more investment and widescale production.
Deputy Editor & Content Partnership ManagerLondon, UK
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
Last month, delegates, negotiators, observers, researchers, youth advocates, and representatives from civil society convened for the 64th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany. Here are my main takeaways.
As I returned to Bonn during this year’s SB64, like most returning observers, I had expectations of technical meetings filled with dense negotiating texts and procedural debates.
Behind each...
On World Youth Skills Day, the UN has argued a changing job market calls for a new educational approach.
The world looks very different from a decade ago, when I was taking my A-Levels. Now young people are leaving school to a largely thankless job market, ill-equipped to accommodate the skills learnt through traditional education.
Technological development, the rise of AI, and a professional landscape transformed by remote working have...
The role has yet to be finalised or filled, but the government is already facing criticism over its decision to appoint a maternity commissioner.
The UK government has announced plans to appoint a maternity commissioner following ‘shocking’ failings in maternity care across England. Whoever takes on the new role will be responsible for spearheading an overhaul of the maternity healthcare system after a major review and sustained pressure from...
After pulling foreign assistance to African countries last year, Trump's government is again offering hundreds of millions in financial aid. But the support comes at a cost, and many nations aren't willing to pay it.
Ghana is the latest African country to turn down a new funding deal from the Trump administration, after the US president dismantled the governing body that oversaw foreign assistance during his second term.
Despite
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
0 comments
