Microplastics are a known threat to overall health, as is eating and drinking from plastic containers. water bottleresearchers suggest, could be serious criminals.
a new research The paper, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, analyzed 141 existing scientific papers on microplastics and nanoplastics from single-use plastic bottles to determine how much plastic humans ingest.
Researchers at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, found that the average person consumes between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles per year, according to a university press release.
Have you left your plastic bottle in a hot car? Think twice before drinking.
People who regularly drink bottled water ingest up to 90,000 more particles per year than those who drink it primarily. tap waterThe research revealed that.
The researchers noted that nanoplastics are of particular concern because they are invisible to the naked eye and are less than 1 micron in size. They also warned that they could enter human cells, cross biological barriers and reach organs and tissues.
Both nanoplastics and microplastics are associated with serious long-term health complications such as respiratory and respiratory illnesses. reproductive issuesbrain and neurotoxicity, cancer risk.
New study finds that bottled water contains tens of thousands of ‘tiny plastic particles’
These particles that enter the bloodstream and vital organs can also cause chronic inflammation, cellular oxidative stress, and hormonal disruption, according to the release.
These tiny plastic fragments are generated during bottle manufacturing, storage, transportation, and disassembly, and particles are released when they are processed or exposed to sunlight. temperature changewarns experts.
“The long-term effects remain poorly understood. extensive testing “Standardized methods of measurement and detection,” the release states.
The study’s lead author, Sara Sajedi, is an environmental management expert with a Ph.D. candidate at Concordia University said in a press release that the health risks of plastic bottles “are seriously lacking in research.”
“Education is the most important action we can take,” she said. “Drinking bottled water is okay in an emergency, but it should not be used in an emergency.” daily life. People need to understand that the problem is not acute toxicity, but chronic toxicity. ”
The researchers noted some limitations to their analysis. Many studies use different testing methods, so results are not always comparable. For some, data on the size and composition of these particles were lacking.
The researchers called for further standardized testing and stronger policies to control plastic contamination in bottled water.
This analysis was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Concordia University.
In January 2025, the International Bottled Water Association released a statement on the risks associated with microplastics and nanoplastics, noting that bottled water is one of thousands of products. food and drink Products packaged in plastic containers.
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“The bottled water industry is committed to providing consumers with the safest, highest quality, healthy hydration products,” a statement on IBWA’s website reads. “Microplastics and nanoplastics exist everywhere in the environment: in the air, soil, and water.”
“There’s no recognized testing method and no scientific consensus on what’s possible.” Health effects Regarding the issue of microplastics and nanoplastics, the industry supports conducting additional research on this important issue. ”
In 2024, the FDA issued a statement on the issue, saying, “Current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that the levels of microplastics or nanoplastics found in food pose a risk to human health.”
The agency said it continues to monitor research on microplastics and nanoplastics in food and is “taking steps to advance the science and ensure our safety.” food remains safe. ”
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In the World Health Organization’s 2022 report, the agency said that “minimum scientific research suggests no adverse health effects from dietary exposure to micro- and nanoplastic particles smaller than 10 microns.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to researchers at Concordia University and several bottled water companies for comment.
