Bottled Drinking Water Contains Microplastics: The Research

The spread of microplastic pollution is increasingly widespread, even being found in the air and everyday consumer goods.

This is recorded in the research report *Human Consumption of Microplastics* released by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

According to the research, bottled drinking water contains the highest amount of microplastics among everyday consumer goods, with an estimated average content of 94.37 microplastic particles per gram/liter/cubic meter.

Microplastics have also been found in beer, air, tap water, seafood, salt, and honey, with varying estimated contents as shown in the graph.

These findings are based on the analysis of 26 studies and 3,600 research samples from various countries.

"We estimate that annual microplastic consumption ranges from 39,000 to 52,000 particles per person, depending on age and gender," wrote the research team on the official ACS website.

The ACS also stated that this research still has methodological and data limitations.

What is Microplastic?

According to Dwi Amanda Utami, a researcher from the Geotechnology Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), microplastics are plastic particles or fibers with a size of less than 5 millimeters (mm).

There are primary microplastics produced in very small sizes, for example, polyethylene microbeads, which are commonly found in beauty products.

Then there are secondary microplastics derived from the decomposition of single-use plastic items.

There are also microplastic fibers derived from synthetic fibers, such as polyester or nylon, commonly used in the production of clothing, furniture, fishing lines, and fishing nets.

“In fact, when we wash 6 kg of clothes made from synthetic fibers, we indirectly discard about 700,000 microplastic fibers into the waterways, which will end up in the sea,” said Dwi, as quoted from the official website of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Microplastics are believed to cause health problems if consumed by humans or other living beings.

"Air pollution also contains microplastics measuring 10–25 mm that can accumulate in the respiratory tract and lungs, thus disrupting the respiratory system," explained Dwi.

"Other potential dangers of microplastics to human health are triggering tumor growth, inhibiting the immune system, and disrupting the reproductive system," she added.

(Also Read: 10 Largest Plastic Waste Producing Corporations in the World)