Whether we like it or not, plastic plays a major role in our everyday lives. From packaging to clothing to other consumer goods, plastic is used in countless ways due to its durability, malleability, and convenience. Unfortunately, these benefits become burdens once plastic is discarded. Since it isn’t biodegradable, plastic can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to break down into smaller pieces, known as microplastics. Microplastics, which are categorized as particles 5 millimeters or less, can break down even further into nanoplastics less than 1 micron in size. Micro and nanoplastics pose serious health concerns, as these tiny pieces of plastic waste are found in oceans, lakes, and drinking water. While there is currently no way to remove microplastics in tap water or bottled water supplies completely, there are options to help you significantly reduce levels at home.
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are small plastic particles that break or fall off plastic products and materials. Scientists have found microplastics in virtually every water source on the planet, including rivers, lakes, oceans, bottled water, and tap water. There are several different types of microplastics commonly found in water, including:
- Beads from personal hygiene products such as toothpaste, face wash, and deodorant. (Microbeads were banned in the US in 2015, with all product manufacturing and distribution halted by July 2019.)
- Plastic films including bags and wrappers
- Foam products, such as Styrofoam peanuts
- Plastic fragments, such as pieces of plastic bottles
- Fibers from materials like synthetic textiles and clothes, diapers, tampons, and wipes
How Prevalent Are Microplastics in Drinking Water?
Studies reveal significant microplastic contamination in tap and bottled drinking water. Researchers discovered roughly 5.5 plastic particles per liter of tap water, with 81% of samples showing some level of contamination. A comparative study of bottled water showed an average of 325 plastic particles per liter of bottled water, with 93% of samples showing signs of contamination. On average, Americans may ingest anywhere from 74,000 to 121,000 bits of microplastic annually, though studies suggest these numbers may be underestimated.
How Do Microplastics Enter Drinking Water?
Environmental, industrial, and domestic sources contribute to microplastic contamination. Surface or industrial runoff, which carries degraded waste from land into rivers, lakes, and oceans, is a major concern. Plastic items like bottles and synthetic materials break down gradually and are swept into water sources. Plastic containers leach can leach microplastics directly into water, especially when exposed to sunlight or temperature changes. Wastewater effluent is also is issue. When synthetic clothing is laundered, it sheds hundreds of thousands of tiny fibers that wastewater treatment plants cannot fully filter out. Poor waste management, such as littering or a lack of recycling, compounds the issue as plastic debris accumulates, disintegrates, and migrates into waterways.
Potential Health Effects of Microplastic Exposure
Unfortunately, there still isn’t much known about the effects of microplastics in water on human health. Preliminary studies uncovered some possible adverse health effects. For example, researchers believe microplastics may cause cardiovascular disease or reduced male fertility. Common chemicals found in plastics, like phthalates and bisphenols, may also cause negative effects. These chemicals are already known to disrupt endocrine function, potentially leading to cancers, metabolic disorders, ADHD, and fertility problems. While these findings highlight possible risks, scientists emphasize the need for more in-depth studies to understand the full extent of microplastic exposure to human health.
Do Water Filters Remove Microplastics?
There is no way for average consumers to test water for microplastics at home at this time. However, because microplastics are so prevalent in both bottled and tap water supplies, it is safe to assume that some of the water you use and consume likely has microplastics in it. Certain kinds of point-of-use water filters can help reduce microplastics from drinking water.
Point-of-use devices that use microfiltration, granular activated carbon (GAC), and ion exchange filters have shown varying success in reducing microplastics in water. One study found point-of-use filters with membrane pore sizes down to 0.2 microns removed between 94% and 100% of plastic fragments like PVC and PET. GAC and ion exchange filters were less effective and even increased microplastic particle counts in filtered output. This research suggests filters with small-pore, physical membrane treatment barriers are more likely to capture microplastics.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Microplastics?
Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most effective filtration methods available for removing a wide range of contaminants from water. These filters use extremely fine membranes with pore sizes around 0.0001 microns to reduce impurities like sediment, microbes, and some chemicals and heavy metals. While RO systems help reduce microplastics in tap water, they are not 100% effective. However, they are one of the best options for homeowners.
Research shows RO-treated water still contains some microplastics. In one study, about 60% of remaining microplastics were fibers ranging from 500 to 2,000 microns in length, with another 40% of remaining smaller fragments between 20 and 500 microns in size. The presence of microplastics after RO treatment may stem from minute gaps in the membrane, potential releases from the membrane material itself, or external environmental factors. These findings suggest that while RO significantly reduces microplastics, complete removal remains challenging, and further investigation is needed to understand the causes of residual microplastic content.
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Other Methods for Reducing Microplastics in Tap Water
Beyond RO, other filtration methods show promise for microplastic reduction. Research has demonstrated that high mineral concentrations, particularly in hard water, can lead to the “encrusting” of microplastics when boiled. In hard water, calcium carbonate can form solid deposits around plastic particles at high temperatures, making them easier to capture with simple filtration systems, like a coffee filter. This method achieved a nearly 90% removal of both nano- and microplastics. However, this tactic is likely to be less effective on soft water, which has a lower mineral content.
Water distillation is another option. However, distillation is less practical due to its high cost, time demands, and energy requirements. Though effective, it’s generally not an ideal option for large-scale or regular water purification. For those seeking more feasible everyday solutions, point-of-use filters with microfiltration membranes or RO systems remain among the most practical options for reducing microplastic levels in drinking water.
