Nanoplastics Found in Bottled Water: Should You Be Concerned?
Introduction
Evian, Fiji, Voss, SmartWater, Aquafina, Dasani—it’s impressive how many brands we have for something humans have been consuming for millennia. Despite years of studies showing that bottled water is no safer to drink than tap water, Americans are consuming more bottled water than ever, to the tune of billions of dollars in bottled water sales.
People cite convenience and taste in addition to perceived safety for reasons they prefer bottle to tap, but the fear factor surrounding tap water is still a driving force. However, municipal water supplies are tested regularly, and in the vast majority of the U.S., you can safely grab a glass of water from a tap.
And now, a new study on nanoplastics found in three popular bottled water brands is throwing more data into the bottled vs. tap water choice.
Study Reveals Nanoplastics in Bottled Water
Researchers from Columbia University used a new laser-guided technology to detect nanoplastics that had previously evaded detection due to their minuscule size. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found an average of 240,000 nanoplastic particles per liter bottle between the three brands studied.
These nanoplastics, which can’t be seen by a microscope, pose a potential risk to human health as they are small enough to invade human cells and potentially disrupt cellular processes.
Possible Health Risks and Questions
While research is still ongoing, certain levels of microplastic exposure have been shown to adversely affect the viability of cells. Given that nanoplastics are even smaller, their potential to cause cellular damage still requires further investigation.
Furthermore, nanoparticles have the ability to bind various compounds, acting as carriers of environmental pollutants, toxins, antibiotics, or microorganisms. The implications of these potential contaminants remain unclear.
Source of Nanoplastics in Water
This study primarily focused on bottled water, which is often packaged in plastic. Additionally, the filters used in the water filtration and bottling process are usually made of plastic as well.
While it’s possible that some nanoplastics may already exist in the water from their original sources, microplastics have been detected in lakes, streams, and other freshwater sources, suggesting that nanoplastics may be present as well. However, bottled water generally contains higher levels of microplastics compared to tap water, indicating that most nanoplastics are likely a result of the bottling process and packaging.
Conclusion
Research shows that there is cause for concern regarding the presence of nanoplastics in bottled water. Despite our limited knowledge regarding the impact on human health, the abundance of these particles raises questions about their potential negative effects.
Given the various environmental reasons for avoiding bottled water unless absolutely necessary, opting for tap water remains an advisable choice. Although ongoing research is needed, the discovery of hundreds of thousands of nanoplastics in bottled water further supports the argument for making the switch.
