Microplastic Contamination Is Found in Most Bottled Water, a New Study Says, By LAIGNEE BARRON March 15, 2018

Microplastic Contamination Is Found in Most Bottled Water, a New Study Says

By LAIGNEE BARRON 

March 15, 2018

Drinking from a plastic water bottle likely means ingesting microplastic particles, a new study claims, prompting fresh concerns — and calls for scientific research — on the possible health implications of widespread plastics pollution.

A study carried out on more than 250 water bottles sourced from 11 brands in nine different countries revealed that Microplastic contamination was nearly universal, found in more than 90% of the samples.

The study, by journalism organization Orb Media and researchers at the State University of New York at Fredonia, found an average of 10.4 microplastic particles about the width of a human hair per liter. That’s about twice the level of contamination discovered in the group’s earlier study on the ubiquitous plastic contamination in tap water across the globe, with the highest rate found in the U.S.

In the case of bottled water, Orb’s new study indicated contamination was partly the result of plastic packaging, and partly the fault of the bottling process. The survey included brands like Aquafina, Dasani, Evian, Nestlé and San Pellegrino.

It’s unclear what effect, if any, this consumption of tiny bits of plastics has on human health. As much as 90% of ingested plastic could pass through a human body, but some of it may end up lodged in the gut, or traveling through the lymphatic system, according to research by the European Food Safety Authority.

“We don’t know all the chemicals in plastics, even… There’s so many unknowns here,” Jane Muncke, chief scientist at the Zurich-based Food Packaging Forum, told Orb.

http://time.com/5200680/microplastic-water-bottle-orb-study/?iid=sr-link1

My Opinion :

This article was published in Time magazine by LAIGNEE BARRON on  15th March 2018 which speaks  about the Micro plastic contamination.

We all are think that bottled drinking water is safe. The general public population have Less or no awareness about the safety of bottled drinking water. Micro plastic contamination in "bottled drinking water"  is an inattention area and new to us.

If micro/nano size plastic particle suppose, reached the blood stream/ lymphatic system what kind of ill effects it will give? whether it will be excreted or accumulated in our body? what will be effects on animals and other living organisms?  in particularly water habitats?  Lot of research are going on in past few decades and Its under exploration.

Today plastic is ruling the world, we cant imagine the world without plastic. Plastic recycling how far working good? What is the end story of the recycled plastic? What is the successful rate of plastic bio-degradation? Their are many questions arising in our mind.

Why cant control the plastic usage?  is their any alternative? Now plastic entered in to the food /water  and what will be in feature. How regulatory organizations are going to control the issue to ensure the food safety and environmental impact? Time have to answer for all this questions.

-on 9th April 2018