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Daily bottled water consumer intake exceeds 90,000 Microplastic particles More people drink tap water than drink tap water, a new review of research suggests, calling for urgent regulatory measures to manage the risk.
The review also noted that people ingesting 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particlesThe average annual size ranges from one thousandth of a millimeter to five millimeters.
Plastic bottles release microplastics during use manufacturing, storage and transportation, They break down when exposed to sunlight and temperature fluctuations, warn researchers at Canada’s Concordia University, who warn that the health effects of ingesting them “can be severe.”
“It is OK to drink from plastic bottles in emergencies, but they should not be used in daily life,” said Sarah Sajedi, lead author of the new review published in the journal Science. Hazardous Materials Magazine.
Microplastics They are known to enter the bloodstream and reach vital organs, potentially causing chronic inflammation, breathing problems, cellular stress, hormonal disruption, impaired reproduction, nerve damage and various cancers. But their long-term effects remain poorly understood due to a lack of standardized testing methods to assess them within organizations.
In this review, researchers drew insights from more than 141 scientific articles examining the global impact on human health of tiny plastic particles ingested from single-use plastic water bottles.
The review suggests that people who only meet the recommended daily water intake from single-use plastic water bottles may be consuming an additional 90,000 microplastics per year, while those who only drink tap water are consuming 4,000 microplastics per year.
The study also said that while existing research tools can detect even very small particles, they do not reveal the composition of these particles.
The researchers noted that tools used to determine the composition of plastic particles often miss the smallest particles within them, and called for the development of standardized global testing methods to accurately measure particles.
“This review highlights chronic health issues associated with exposure to nano- and microplastics, including respiratory disease, reproductive problems, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity,” the researchers wrote.
“We highlight the challenges of standardized testing methods and the need for comprehensive regulations on nano- and microplastics in water bottles.”
The study also highlights the need to transition from single-use plastics to sustainable, long-term solutions for water intake.
“Addressing public access to safe drinking water and improving water infrastructure are critical to reducing reliance on single-use plastics,” the review states.
“Comprehensive research is still needed to fully understand the health and environmental impacts of nano- and microplastics in bottled water.”