Study identifies numerous plastic particles in bottled water

A bottle of water can be more dangerous than you think. A recent study, published in a scientific journal of the U.Sdiscovered that bottled water is much worse than previously known, in terms of the number of plastic fragments.

Scientists used a new technique to identify the presence of these elements. Right away, they perceived a separate universe. On average, each liter of water sold in bottles, from popular brands, has 240,000 detectable fragments of plastic.

The high number draws a lot of attention, because it indicates a significant worsening compared to what was previously believed. This is 10 to 100 times more than previously estimated. In this case, it is impossible not to think about the harm to health.

Obvious impasse

Scientific research discovers thousands of plastic particles in bottled water – Photo: Internet/Reproduction

The situation is worrying and requires further studies to better detail the case. On the other hand, the data is already enough to put the population at an impasse.

Professor Beizhan Yan, from Columbia University and co-author of the scientific article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, points out that, given the concern generated by nanoplastics in water, it may be reasonable to consider alternatives such as tap water.

This, of course, would not be a solution for many countries around the world, where tap water is far from reliable and suitable for human consumption. This possibility, in itself, already demonstrates the size of the impasse.

On the other hand, he explains that the results obtained by the research should not discourage people from drinking bottled water when necessary.

“The risk of dehydration may outweigh the possible effects of exposure to nanoplastics”, says the professor.

Extra attention

The truth is that the world has increased its attention to the presence of plastic fragments in the most diverse environments. Today, they are found everywhere: from the poles to the mountains, even in water and food.

Objectively, microplastics are classified this way because they are less than five millimeters. Nanoplastics are even smaller particles. They have a dimension below one millionth of a meter.

This dimensional characteristic makes them almost imperceptible and, at the same time, dangerous, as they are so small that they can pass through the organs and reach the body. blood flow quietly. Studies have even shown that they can pass through the placenta and reach the fetus.

Lots to discover

Some laboratory research has already linked the toxic effects of nanoplastics with reproductive abnormalities and gastric problems, but there is still a long way to go to clarify the health consequences.

To discover their presence in bottled water, the group of researchers used a technique called stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy.

This was created recently and consists of probing samples with two lasers capable of resonating specific molecules.

From this process, it is possible to identify foreign particles and reveal them to a computer algorithm that counts everything. Three market-leading brands passed the test, but the names were not disclosed by scientists.

“We believe that all bottled water contains nanoplastics, so singling out three popular brands could be considered unfair,” explains Professor Beizhan Yan.