Micro-plastics Found More Than 90% Of Bottled Water

Study says that Micro-plastics found more than 90% of bottled water 

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A new analysis of some of the world’s most popular bottled water brands says more than 90% contains tiny pieces of plastic.

The research was conducted on behalf of Orb Media, a U.S-based non-profit journalism organization with which CBC News has partnered.

Mason's team tested 259 bottles of water purchased in nine countries (none were bought in Canada). Though many brands are sold internationally, the water source, manufacturing and bottling process for the same brand can differ by country.

According to the new study, the most common type of plastic fragment found was polypropylene – the same type of plastic used to make bottle caps. The bottles analysed were bought in the US, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Lebanon, Kenya and Thailand.

Scientists used Nile red dyeto fluoresce particles in the water – the dye tends to stick to the surface of plastics but not most natural materials.

How Foods and Drinks Get Contaminated:

Micro-plastics have been found in some of the foods and drinks that we ingest. This may not mean that they are present in these items everywhere in the world, but on the other hand contamination of the items may be widespread. More testing is needed.

Micro-plastic particles have been found in the tissues of fish and shellfish species that are sold in stores and markets. Sea salt containing micro-plastic has been found in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and China.

In 2017, samples of tap water from different countries were analyzed. 83% of the samples contained plastic fibers. A smaller study in Ireland found micro-plastic in tap water from that country. In 2014, a pair of scientists found that micro-plastics were present in all of the twenty-four samples of German beers that they tested. The plastic consisted of grains, fragments, and fibers.