FOR the longest time, many are living under the impression that commercially sold bottled water is safe for human consumption, for which a long list of businessmen invested in what appears to be a lucrative business embarking on “needs.”
In a study published by Communications Biology, a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal covering research in biology, bottled water is the main source of microplastics, doing damage to the intestinal wall and kidneys and causing systemic inflammation.
“Microplastics in drinking water and food are being ingested by humans, causing damage to internal organs after being absorbed through the digestive system. That’s most notably occurring in the kidneys,” reads part of the study.
The study also found microplastics — tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in length — are the primary carriers of the environmental pollutant Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) into the body. The specific pathways are not fully understood, but there is evidence that BaP is being absorbed primarily through the intestines after oral ingestion, posing health risks.
TINY BUT ALARMING
Part of the same study hinted at difficulties in addressing microplastics in the environment “since they are nearly impossible to clean up because of their tiny size.”
Citing documented cases, the Communications Biology claims microplastics have been “found in the stomachs of humans and animals, as well as in the air, soil, tap water, food, and drinks. They are also accumulating in our oceans, causing damage to coral reefs and oceanic ecosystems.”
For one, microplastics are not found in nature. The most recent global environmental concern is manufactured by humans, which makes it improbable to be broken down by organisms.
STUDY METHODOLOGY
The study on microplastics — identified in diverse settings, including drinking water, freshwater, food, air, and marine environments — employed stereomicroscopic and µ-Raman techniques to analyze water samples from ten widely consumed bottled water brands, aiming to detect and characterize microplastics (MPs, for brevity).
Additionally, the oral consumption of MPs per capita was estimated. The average abundance of MPs ranged from 9 ± 1.00 MPs/L to 3 ± 1.73 MPs/L across all brands
Various MPs shapes were observed, including fibers, fragments, films, and pellets, with fibers being predominant (58.928%). MPs were categorized by color into five groups (red, blue, black, yellow, and transparent), with red comprising approximately 35.714% of the total count.
All identified MPs were less than 500 µm in size.
DAILY WATER INTAKE
The study confirmed the presence of eight different polymer types in bottled water that “health-conscious” people consume on a daily basis.
Unknown to consumers, bottled water contains polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polybutylene1, isotactic polypropylene, Nylon 6-α polymorph, and polyvinyl alcohol.
The estimated daily intake of MPs per person is pegged at 0.42 MPs, translating to an annual intake of 153.3 MPs per person.
The origin of MPs in bottled water was likely attributed to both raw water sources and packaging materials, underscoring the need for further investigation. Given the potential health implications of human exposure to drinking water MPs, careful consideration should be given to the use of plastic packaging for potable water.
REDUCING MICROPLASTICS
Addressing health risks caused by microplastics in the environment doesn’t need a rocket-science solution. All we have to do is to reduce plastic use. In some cases, plastic use is unavoidable, for which recycling was conceptualized.
In the Philippines, there is a law referred to as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act 9003) which provides a framework for local government units (LGUs) to implement integrated solid waste management plans, aiming to reduce waste by at least 25% through the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle).
However, the government can not solve the problem without public compliance and cooperation. Example, consider reusable water bottles over single-use plastics. Use eco bags or baskets rather than disposable bags.
Proper recycling of plastics is also a must to keep plastics from evolving into microplastics that we can breathe and ingest.