2024-01-10 10:57:06
A recent study, published on Monday in a leading American scientific journal, reveals that bottled water It might contain up to a hundred times more tiny plastic particles than previously estimated.
The researchers, applying a novel technique, found an average of 240,000 microscopic plastic fragments per liter in well-known bottled water brands.
This represents a 10- to 100-fold increase over previous estimates, raising health concerns that demand further investigation.
Beizhan Yan, associate professor of geochemical research at Columbia University and co-author of the study, suggests considering options like tap water if there are concerns regarding nanoplastics in bottled water. However, he emphasizes that The consumption of bottled water should not be ruled out in necessary situationssince the risks of dehydration might be greater than the effects of nanoplastics, reports DW.
Plastic everywhere
The global focus on microplastics, which are fragments smaller than 5 millimeters, and nanoplastics, defined as even tinier particles, has grown recently. These particles are present all over the world, from the poles to the tops of mountains, and They have been found in drinking water and food.
Due to their small size, nanoplastics can pass through physical barriers in the body, such as the digestive system and lungs, and potentially reaching the bloodstreamvital organs, and even to the fetus through the placenta.
Although research on its impact on human health and ecosystems is still limited, some preliminary studies suggest possible toxic effects, including reproductive and gastric problems.
Not just bottled water: Tap water also contains microplastics
The research team employed a technique called stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, which uses two lasers to identify specific molecules, allowing a computational algorithm to determine their composition. After analyzing three leading bottled water brands, they chose not reveal their names, arguing that the presence of nanoplastics is probably widespread in all brands of bottled water.
Soon, they plan to investigate tap water, which also contains microplastics, although at significantly lower levels than bottled water.
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