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Microplastics
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Micro- and nanoplastic particles in bottled water
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Scientists from the US universities Columbia and Rutgers have discovered an alarming amount of micro- and nanoplastic particles in bottled water.
They found almost a quarter of a million of these tiny plastic particles in an average liter of bottled water. The particles were identified and categorized for the first time with a microscope that uses two lasers.
Although scientists had already suspected that such particles were present in high numbers, it has only now been possible to carry out precise measurements and typing. These findings have led some researchers to reduce their consumption of bottled water.
In the study "Rapid single-particle chemical imaging ofnanoplastics by SRS microscopy" published in the Proceedings of the National Academyof Sciences (PNAS) on January 8, 2024, researchers examined five samples of each of three brands of mineral water.
They found that the amount of microplastic particles per liter varied between 110,000 and 400,000, with an average of around 240,000 particles. These findings show a worryingly high occurrence of microplastics in bottled mineral water.
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) stated that there are currently no standardized methods for measuring nano- and microplastic particles and no scientific consensus on the possible health effects of these particles. It emphasized that media reports about these particles in drinking water could only serve to unnecessarily frighten consumers. The American Chemistry Council, which represents plastics manufacturers, has not yet issued a statement on the issue.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world is increasingly suffering from plastic pollution. Over 430 million tons of plastic are produced every year, and microplastics can be detected in the world's oceans, food and drinking water. Current efforts to reach a global plastics agreement are continuing, even after negotiations stalled in November.
After conducting their study, all four co-authors reduced their consumption of bottled water. Wei Min, a physical chemist at Columbia University, has halved his bottled water consumption. Stapleton, another co-author, now tends to use filtered water at home in New Jersey.
Beizhan Yan, an environmental chemist at Columbia University, has increased his tap water consumption, but points out the problem that filters can also introduce plastic. External experts praise the study and emphasize that there are legitimate concerns about the dangers of plastic particles, but that it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions.
External experts welcome the study and unanimously emphasize that there are legitimate concerns about the dangers of fine plastic particles. However, it is still too early to state the exact risks with certainty.
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