- Bottled water has toxic particles
- Nanoplastics linked to health issues
- Research shows alarming contamination
New research has discovered that plastic water bottles contain hundreds of thousands of toxic microscopic plastic particles.
The results may surprise those who thought switching from tap to bottled water was healthier.
Scientists are concerned that ingesting water from a bottle may introduce minuscule particles of plastic into the body, which may accumulate in vital organs and cause unidentified health complications.
There is already evidence linking nanoplastics to cancer, infertility, and birth defects.
Utilising the most advanced laser scanning techniques, scientists discovered that a one-liter bottle of water contained an average of 240,000 plastic particulates, compared to 5.5 per litre of tap water.
Researchers from the University of Columbia examined three well-known brands of bottled water sold in the United States. They used lasers to detect plastic particles as small as 100 nanometers.
The nanoplastic particles are considerably more minute in size than the microplastics that were previously identified in bottled water.
Nevertheless, due to their minuscule size, these particles are deemed potentially hazardous, as they are capable of penetrating blood cells and the brain.
Phthalates, which are chemical compounds present in these minuscule particles, impart enhanced durability, flexibility, and longevity to polymers.
Annual phthalate exposure is linked to one hundred thousand untimely fatalities in the United States. It is known that the chemicals inhibit the production of hormones within the body.
They are associated with “problems of the reproductive system, brain, and immune system,” as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The maximum estimations identified 370,000 particles.
Conventional techniques had proven inadequate for the detection of nanoplastics, as they were limited to microplastics measuring between 5mm and 1 micrometre (equivalent to a millionth of a metre or 1/25,000th of an inch). The diameter of nanoplastic particles is below 1 micrometre.
In 2018, pioneering investigations identified an estimated 300 microplastic particulates per litre of bottled water. However, the measurement techniques employed by the researchers at the time imposed certain constraints.
Globally, investigations are presently being conducted to determine the potential for adverse effects.
The researchers used SRS microscopy, a new technology invented by one of the paper’s co-authors.
Bottles are examined using two lasers calibrated to produce certain molecular resonances to determine their source.
The findings revealed that 90% of these molecules were nanoparticles, while the remaining 10% were microplastics.
One prevalent form of nanoparticles identified was polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Environmental chemist and study co-author Professor Beizhan Yan of Columbia stated, “This was to be expected, given that numerous water bottles are constructed from this material.”
Additionally, PET is utilised in the production of bottled beverages, sports drinks, ketchup, and mayonnaise, he continued.
“It likely enters the water as particles flake off during squeezing or exposure to heat of the bottle.”
Another form of plastic particle discovered in water bottles, surpassing PET in quantity, was polyamide, which is classified as nylon.
Professor Yan remarked, “Ironically, this probably originates from the plastic filters that purport to purify the water prior to bottling.”
Additional prevalent polymers discovered included polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). All of these find application in diverse industrial operations.
Nevertheless, the researchers were perturbed to discover that the aforementioned plastics comprised a mere 10 percent of the total nanoparticles detected in the samples. They are unaware of the remaining items.
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Wei Min, a biophysicist and co-author of the study, stated that the research paves the way for a new scientific frontier, adding, “This was previously an uncharted, dark area.”
“Practising nanoplastics is significant because the more easily they can penetrate the human body, the smaller they are.”
Although in much lesser quantities than bottled water, tap water has been shown to contain microplastics, which the team intends to investigate.
Plastic production continues to be an environmental hazard on a global scale, generating 400 million metric tonnes annually.
Annually, over 30 million tonnes of plastic waste are disposed of in water or on land, and numerous synthetic clothing items and other plastic products release particles during use.
Scientists continue to investigate the potential health implications of this for human beings.
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