Huge amounts of nanoplastics discovered in tap and bottled water
Mongabay • • health
Key Points:
- A new study reveals that nanoplastics in U.S. drinking water are 10-100 times more prevalent than previously estimated, with bottled water containing three times higher concentrations of nanoplastics than tap water.
- Researchers used advanced techniques, including optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, to detect and analyze plastic particles smaller than 500 nanometers, uncovering significantly higher levels of micro and nanoplastics.
- Nanoplastics accounted for over 50% of detected particles in both bottled and treated tap water, indicating prior studies underestimated these contaminants.
- The health impacts of nanoplastics remain poorly understood, but plastic particles have been found in various human tissues and linked to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular issues, and hormone disruption.
- Experts emphasize the importance of mitigating nanoplastic exposure despite uncertainties about the full extent of health risks, given evidence that these particles can cause harm.
