Microplastics represent particles invisible to the naked eye. And know that they continue to pose a major environmental and health threat. A recent study published in the journal PLOS Water, carried out by researchers from the CNRS in Toulouse, sheds light on their worrying presence in bottled water sold in France.
Bottled water contaminated with microplastics
Looking at ten brands of bottled water, researchers measured microplastic levels ranging from 0.001 to 0.250 micrograms per liter. And the least we can say is that it is a “considerable variation”according to them.
This disparity shows the importance of the brand chosen for limit exposure to microplastics. “This suggests that the brand chosen has a significant impact on the degree to which we are exposed to microplastics when ingesting bottled water”summarizes the study.
If the levels of microplastics observed are troubling in bottled water, the study also points to the presence of these particles in tap water. Water analyzed in Toulouse revealed very high levels.
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Please note that the types of plastics detected differ from those present in the bottles. This therefore shows that other stages of water treatment or transport are involved. The particles identified in the bottles remain often less than 20 microns in diameter.
This is a size considered particularly worrying by the World Health Organization (WHO). Their small size allows these microplastics to penetrate deep into the human body. They can cross biological barriers to reach the blood and potentially vital organs.
According to the researchers, “not only does this study demonstrate that the protocol used remains applicable. But she highlights the importance of including small microplastics in water analysis and regulation« in bottles and on tap.
-Indispensable vigilance
While the European Union recently introduced directives that make it easier to measure microplastics, these new rules ignore particles smaller than 20 microns. On the other hand, it is precisely these ultrafine microplastics that pose the greatest health risks.
The results of this study show that it remains possible to measure these particles. Experts therefore want to include them in the future laws regarding bottled waterFor example.
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Please note that microplastics are not limited to bottled water. Indeed, they also remain omnipresent in our food, in the air we breathe and in tap water.
Their impact on health remains difficult to establish with certainty. On the other hand, studies associate them with various problems. This can therefore range from chronic inflammation to metabolic disorders.
This study highlights the need to improve regulation, increase brand transparency and invest in advanced filtration technologies. This will help limit exposure to microplastics in bottled water, for example. In the meantime, the French must exercise great caution.
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