Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Public Health

Background:

• Microplastic pollution is a growing global concern.
• Bottled water is a widely consumed beverage, making its potential contamination significant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify microplastic contamination in globally sourced bottled water.
• To identify the types and potential sources of microplastics in bottled water.

Main Methods:

• Nile Red tagging was used to detect microplastics in 259 bottles from 19 locations across nine countries.
• Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to confirm polymer types.
• Particles were categorized by morphology and size, with a focus on those >100 µm and 6.5-100 µm.

Main Results:

• 93% of bottled water samples contained microplastics.
• An average of 10.4 microplastic particles/L (>100 µm) and 325 microplastic particles/L (6.5-100 µm) were detected.
• Polypropylene was the most common polymer (54%), often found in bottle caps, and industrial lubricants were present in 4% of particles.

Conclusions:

• Bottled water is a significant source of microplastic exposure.
• Packaging and bottling processes are probable contributors to contamination.
• Further research is needed on the health impacts of microplastics from bottled water consumption.