There could be 240,000 Plastic Nanoparticles in Your Throwaway Water Bottle

 

·   A recent study found that there are 240,000 identifiable plastic bits in one liter of bottled water on average. We refer to these as nanoplastics.

 

·   Because nanoplastics can have major health effects and are hard to detect, they should be taken seriously. They can also cross blood-brain, tissue, and intestinal barriers

      ·   You can install water filters on your faucets or use them to remove some of the undesirable particles before drinking the water to ensure that it is safe to consume.

The effects of microplastics on the environment and human health are causing worry among professionals in the field of health.

Even smaller than microplastics, nanoplastics are currently the subject of research. Bottled water is one of the main causes of the issue because it contains thousands of plastic particles.

Because they are so tiny, nanoplastics can enter the bloodstream and eventually find their way to other organs and systems throughout the body. The amount of nanoplastics present in a single plastic water bottle is examined in a recent study.

The study's author states, "Our prior research has demonstrated the pervasiveness of microplastics in New York City's waters and air, as well as their ability to carry contaminants like Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), medications, and infections." "In contrast, because of their higher partitioning rate and related nanotoxicity, nanoplastics are anticipated to have an even greater impact on the environment and human health."

 

 Nanoplastices in Large Quantities in Bottled Water

Only around 10% of the nanoparticles in the water samples were found to be plastics, therefore the researchers searched for seven different forms of plastic for the latest study.

This implies that figuring out the makeup of particles is really difficult. An average liter of bottled water was found to contain 240,000 distinct pieces of plastic, according to the researchers' estimation.

 
To find out if consuming bottled water containing nanoplastics could have a negative impact on one's health, more research is required.

"It makes sense to think about tap water as an alternative if people are worried about nanoplastics in bottled water," an expert stated. But it's critical to stress that maintaining hydration is essential for good health. Therefore, since the risk of dehydration can outweigh the possible effects of nanoplastic exposure, we do not advise against drinking bottled water when necessary.

According to the expert, the researchers intend to broaden the scope of their research platform in the future by incorporating a greater variety of environmental samples. Analyzing biological tissues, tap water, and air samples will all be part of this.

 
Their goal is to increase our comprehension of the existence and effects of nanoplastics in these settings. The research team also plans to look into any negative effects on health that exposure to nanoplastics might have.

 

Do nanoplastics Pose a Threat?

An expert said, "Hexogenous mixtures of different chemicals are mostly present in plastics, giving them their unique structural and functional properties." "These chemicals have the potential to act as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) once they leak out of the plastic containers as micro- and nanoplastics."

These EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals) have the ability to imitate hormones found in our bodies. For example, bisphenol A (BPA) can activate estrogen receptors and mimic the effects of estrogen.

On the other hand, some nanoplastic substances cause disruptions to specific bodily systems, such as the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands. Two main issues with nanoplastics are that they are:

1) Tough to identify and remove from consumer food and beverage items;

2) More easily able to penetrate blood-brain, intestine, and tissue barriers, potentially having a deleterious effect on a number of organ systems, the expert continued.

 

Why does Food Contain So much Plastic?

"There is a long and complicated production process each encounter from the harvest of raw material to the finishing, packaging, and shipping in most consumer goods, be it food, drink, or cosmetics," the expert stated. The product may come into contact with different chemicals related to plastic at every stage and get contaminated. Therefore, it is not unexpected that the author discovered so many new nanoparticles in consumer items after using novel approaches to identify nanoplastics.

Similarly, innocuous chemicals added to consumer goods and packaging may occasionally deteriorate over time as a result of exposure to environmental factors like heat, ozone, UV and normal spectrum light radiation, and aging. These factors may also cause the chemicals to physically and chemically change into new forms that could be harmful to health, the expert continued.

As a result, it's crucial to store consumer goods (food, drink, cosmetics, and medications) in their original packaging and to throw away those that have passed their expiration date.

What Level of Cleanliness is there in Your Water?

 

The researchers want to look at tap water next.

According to an expert, "the majority of municipalities and utility companies that supply water to their communities adhere to strict laws and regulations to ensure the product they deliver is safe for consumption." Nevertheless, old pipes and malfunctioning water main infrastructure can occasionally cause disruptions in the water supply, allowing undesirable chemicals or microbes to seep into customers' faucets. The majority of these interruptions are brief, and consumption of these undesired goods can be avoided by following municipal utility instructions, such as running the tap or boiling the water.

Furthermore, some of the particles that could contaminate a water supply can be removed by installing water filters on the taps and/or utilizing them before drinking the water.

 

"Although tap water typically contains less micro- and nanoplastics than commercially bottled water, this can increase the water's plastic contamination if consumers end up storing their tap water in plastic containers that are exposed to heat, sunlight, and/or detergents," an expert said. "Micro or nanoplastic contamination from environmental runoff of plastics pollution from trash, landfills, soil/watershed pollution may also affect homes with well water."

How to Drink Water Safely

"Drinking water should be a part of one's healthy daily routines because it is important for life. We can meet our water consumption targets by using filtered devices, plastic bottled water, or the tap, according to the expert.

 

But while ingesting water and other liquids, it's crucial to think about limiting exposure to undesired micro- and nanoplastics.

According to an expert, "tap water providing fluoride as a preventative measure against tooth decay and tends to have decreased amounts of these plastics." Filter, bottled, and tap water are all generally safe to use. Therefore, one of the safest sources of drinking water can be found if the local government delivers clean drinking water through the tap. If plastic containers are to be used to store the water, then keeping them cool and out of direct sunlight will help reduce the amount of plastic that seeps into the water.

Conclusion

A recent study found that there are 240,000 identifiable plastic pieces, or nanoplastics, in one liter of bottled water on average. Because they are difficult to recognize and have the potential to enter the bloodstream and eventually internal organs, these microscopic plastic particles are very dangerous. Using water filters is advised by health professionals to lessen the quantity of plastics and contaminants.

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