New research finds microplastics in 90% of bottled water
Researchers from the State University of New York in Fredonia have found an unprecedented amount of plastic pollution in a wide range of bottled water.
Researchers from the State University of New York in Fredonia have found an unprecedented amount of plastic pollution in a wide range of bottled water.
The scientists tested 259 individual bottles in nine countries around the world, and 11 different brands. Their tests found evidence of plastic contamination in 93 percent of bottles. 4 percent of the particles found also showed evidence of industrial lubricants.
Knowledge of the impact of plastic in the human body isn’t clear, but the World Health Organisation has since announced a review of the potential risks.
The research was conducted on behalf of Orb Media, a nonprofit journalism organization based in Washington, D.C.
“Some of the bottles we tested contained so many particles that we asked a former astrophysicist to use his experience counting stars in the heavens to help us tally these fluorescing constellations”, said a statement from Orb Media.
The sizes of the plastics found ranged from the width of a human hair to the size of a red blood cell. One of the bottles tested had an incredible high concentration of 10,000 particles per litre.
Leading brands have defended the safety of their bottled water saying that their own tests showed significantly less contamination than in research. "We stand by the safety of our bottled water products," the American Beverage Association said in a statement.
Some academics responded with caution at the results, which aren’t peer reviewed, saying that the human body could be able to cope with microplastics. A separate question is whether it should.
“Based on what we know so far about the toxicity of microplastics—and our knowledge is very limited on that—I would say that there is little health concern, as far as we know,” says Martin Wagner, a toxicologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. “I mean, that's quite logical because I believe that our body is very well-adapted in dealing with those non-digestible particles.”
Photo Credit: Steven Depolo/Flickr