Microplastics in Water: Should You Be Worried?

The media likes to get our attention, and sometimes, that’s done with outrageous, fear-inducing headlines. It pays to take some things with a healthy dose of skepticism, and to do your own due diligence, which brings us to the focus of this blog: Are microplastics really as big of a deal as some are making them out to be? Do you really need to be concerned?

Let’s break down what research has learned so far. 

Learn more about how microplastics harm our health.

The Truth: Plastic Lives in Tap and Bottled Water

You may not be surprised to learn that plastic is coming out of your tap, but did you know that bottled water isn’t a safe alternative, either?

Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health not only found microplastics in both tap water and bottled water, but it also found that the concentration was higher in bottled water. Specifically, reusable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and even glass bottles were big offenders. This suggests that if you have to choose between tap water and bottled water, tap water might be better (in terms of plastic, at least) due to a higher removal of microplastics by drinking water treatment plants.

How bad is it, exactly? Well, one study showed an average of 325 plastic particles in a liter of bottled water, and 5.5 plastic particles per liter of tap water.

This doesn’t even take into account the sizes of the particles. The National Institutes of Health wrote about researchers who found an average of 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic in a liter of bottled water. About 90% were nanoplastics. Many of the particles contained seven common types of plastic, like polyamide (which, oddly, is often used to help purify water) and PET (which is used to make bottles). But additionally, they noted millions of other particles that did not match the seven that they had previously identified.

This is a Global Problem

The United States isn’t the only region experiencing this problem. Research from Emerging Contaminants shared that 177 tap water samples from 13 cities in the United Kingdom were studied, along with 85 samples of bottled water from 17 popular brands, made of different packaging materials.

Microplastics were found in all tap water and bottled water samples. In this study, the average concentrations of microplastics were largely the same between tap and bottled water. However, the average particle size in tap water exceeded the size of microplastics in bottled water. This suggests that whatever purification the bottled water received was more efficient at removing large particles, specifically, although it didn’t ultimately change the overall concentration.

Are Water Treatment Plants Doing Anything About It?

If microplastics are detected in both tap and bottled water, clearly, any filtering happening in treatment plants isn’t enough. Research out of the University of Oviedo’s Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering looked at the removal of microplastics and microfibres from wastewater and drinking water treatment plants. Even when the water is treated, the average microfiber removal efficiency is only over 70%, which means that quite a bit is still left behind.

Can You Reduce Your Consumption of Microplastics in Water?

Thankfully, yes, there are ways to reduce the number of microplastics in your water. However, there are also a few methods we need to explore further and, in some cases, debunk.

First, here are a few surefire ways to reduce your plastic consumption:

• Avoid using single-use plastics, like water bottles, straws, lids, and grocery bags.

• Purchase items with minimal packaging.

• Opt for more sustainable materials/products—like cutting boards made from glass, stainless steel, stone, or wood.

Does Boiling Water Remove Microplastics?

Another suggestion we see pop up quite a bit is to boil your tap water to remove contaminants, but this warrants further discussion.

There is evidence suggesting that boiling water could reduce its concentration of microplastics. In China, researchers found that boiling water ultimately removed up to 90% of free-floating nano- and micro-plastics. However, there are a few important disclaimers.

First, research proving that boiling water reduces the concentration of microplastics is scant, at best. It’s not yet a reliable method for purifying water.

Second, note that in this study, as the temperature of the water increased, crystalline structures that contained plastic particles formed. You would need to remove these structures—for example, by running the water through a coffee filter.

Third, this effect was much more pronounced in hard water. In soft water samples, around 25% of the plastics were removed.

And fourth, in all likelihood, your tap water is contaminated with other types of particles, not just plastic. Boiling water will kill or inactivate bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and other pathogens. It will not remove neurotoxic microorganisms and chemicals like lead, arsenic, fluoride, pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, and industrial chemicals. In fact, boiling water can increase the concentration of some contaminants, like lead. And, like we said earlier, science hasn’t yet strongly determined that boiling water can reduce the presence of microplastics.

The Most Efficient Technology for Removing Microplastics From Water

So, let’s recap:

• Your tap water has microplastics in it.

• Your bottled water has microplastics in it.

• Boiling water likely won’t remove microplastics.

What option does that leave you with, then? The answer lies in at-home water purification.

But we’re not talking about the filter that attaches to your kitchen faucet, or the one built into your refrigerator. Those likely don’t use reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration, which is the most efficient way to purify your water.

Sans water technology combines RO water filtration with a dedicated volatile organic compound (VOC) filter, activated carbon, and UV-C purification to remove more than 99% of harmful contaminants, including heavy metals, PFAS, chemicals, and (you guessed it) microplastics. For peace of mind, SmartPure gives you real-time insights into the quality of your water.

Sans auto-refills, instantly dispenses hot water, and is built with a removable pitcher that you can take with you around the house. The countertop design is modern, inconspicuous, and requires no installation. 

Learn more about our countertop water purifier and, for on-the-go filtration, our self-cleaning water bottle.