Bottled water have been widely seen as harmless, and even a healthy way to hydrate. Though news had emerged of water bottle 'poisoning' or the dangers of leaving water bottle in the car, these are nothing compared to the disturbing findings of a new study.
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As reported by CNN, a new study has uncovered that bottled water has way more tiny plastic particles than previously suspected. This is not the best news for humans. Keep reading to find out why.
Earlier, another study had found that using plastic chopping board also leads to a lot of microplastics in your food.
Nanoplastics in bottled water
As per a study published in PNAS journal, scientists from Columbia and Rutgers have found some highly disturbing data about bottled water.
The study highlights the gap in knowledge about plastic pollution, especially at nano level. Researchers developed a powerful optical imaging technique which enabled rapid analysis of nanoplastics with unprecedented accuracy.
Scientists found that exposure to the micro-nano plastics from regular bottled water was at the level of 105 particles per litre. This is 2-3 times larger in magnitude than previously reported.
Regarding plastic pollution in drinking water, the study states,
Specifically in drinking water production, plastic contamination is confirmed in every step from the well to the bottle.
The health impact of bottled water
As per CNN, nanoplastics are some of the most serious types of plastic pollution. These minuscule particles can invade individual cells and tissues in our body. They can potentially impede cellular processes and deposit endocrine-disrupting chemicals and even heavy metals, which could be harmful to our health.
In addition to the toxins and chemicals that these nanoplastics can carry inside our bodies, the impact of these plastic polymers itself remains unclear. Scientists hope that the new optical imaging technology can aid in studying that.
Sherri Mason, director of sustainability at Penn State Behrend, Pennsylvania tells CNN,
People don’t think of plastics as shedding but they do.n almost the samewaywe’re constantly shedding skin cells, plastics are constantly shedding little bits that break off, such as when you open that plastic container for your store-bought salad or a cheese that’s wrapped in plastic.
As CNN states, the finding are reinforcing expert advice which state that we should reduce our use of bottled water, instead opting to drink water from glass or stainless steel containers.
Read more:
⋙ Reusing your plastic water bottles could have disastrous consequences for your health
⋙ Hot water bottle: Here's how to use them safely this winter
Sources used:
PNAS: ' Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy'
CNN: ' Bottled water contains thousands of nanoplastics so small they can invade the body’s cells, study says'
