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.
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