Shocking! Bottled water drinkers ingest 90,000 more microplastic particles each year, warns new study
A recent study reveals alarming levels of microplastics in bottled water, exposing consumers to an average of 90,000 additional microplastic particles annually compared to tap water drinkers. These particles can enter the bloodstream, impacting vital organs and potentially contributing to serious health issues like inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and even cancer. The environmental cost of bottled water production and disposal further exacerbates the problem.
New Delhi: Your choice of bottled water damages both your health and the environment. Those who drink bottled water swallow, on an average, 90,000 more microplastic particles than those who drink tap water. These tiny particles can make their way into the bloodstream and affect the heart, brain, and other vital organs.
What did the study find
A recent study carried out by Concordia University in Montreal (Canada), warned that on an average, each person ingests 52,000 microplastic particles each year, while those who drink bottled water take in an additional 90,000 microplastic particles. The size of these particles ranges from 1 micron to 5 millimeters.
These particles are released from plastic bottles due to factors like manufacturing, storage, sunlight, and temperature. Sara Sajedi, who led the study, said that once microplastics find their way into the body, they dissolve into the bloodstream and reach vital organs. These particles can lead to persistent inflammation, oxidative stress on cells, hormonal imbalance, reduced fertility, brain damage, and even serious illnesses like cancer.
Experts contend that the real threat lies not in immediate poisoning but in toxins that build up in the body over a period of time. A report by 'British Medical Journal Global Health' pointed out that one million bottles of bottled water are bought every minute across the world.
What's the threat
Researchers carried out tests and found that 10 to 78 percent of bottled water samples contained contaminants. These pollutants included microplastics, phthalates, and chemicals like Bisphenol-A (BPA), which can cause diseases such as heart disorders, diabetes, and obesity. The likelihood of harmful chemicals seeping from bottles increases when they are stored for extended periods or left in heat and sunlight, the study revealed.
Bottled water is not just putting a burden on health but also on the environment and climate. The consumption of raw materials for plastic bottles during manufacturing, the huge carbon emissions in the manufacturing process, and the huge plastic waste after use -- all these contribute to a major environmental hazard.
In India, the bottled water market was estimated to be Rs 20,000 crore in 2023, according to reports. Even though the Bureau of Indian Standards has set stringent standards for packaged drinking water and mineral water, these rules are often flouted.