New research has revealed that between 10% and 78% of bottled water contains microplastics, with experts saying the use of plastic water bottles needs to be “urgently” reviewed.
Microplastics are tiny particles that get into the bloodstream, which scientists believe may interfere with several bodily processes.
The study also found traces of the chemical phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which can interfere with hormones and have been linked to infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, asthma and certain cancers.
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The findings have prompted the research team from Qatar to warn: “The reliance on bottled water incurs significant health, financial and environmental costs, calling for an urgent re-evaluation of its widespread use.”
They called on restaurants and others to stop supplying water in plastic bottles, saying that tap water is much safer because of the “rigorous quality and safety standards” it must meet.
Microplastics can be as small as two-thousandths of a millimetre and can end up in food and water and even the air.
There is growing evidence that links microplastics to cancer, dementia, heart disease and lower-quality sperm.
It is believed that BPA, which is used to strengthen food packaging, breaks down and can make its way into water bottles when they are squeezed, or the cap is opened and closed repeatedly.
Exposure to heat, such as being left in a hot car, can also cause these chemicals to get in the water.
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While Britain follows EU safety levels when it comes to BPA, the scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine said: “While there are short-term safety thresholds, the long-term effects of these contaminants remain largely unknown.”
Microplastics have worried scientists for some time, because of the ease in which they can get inside the body.
Research has found that every week, the average person ingests the amount of plastic equivalent to a credit card.
Even this could be underestimation however, as experts say not all foods have been reviewed to measure their plastic content.
Some scientists say the amount of microplastics breathed in mean it should rank alongside asbestos or tobacco as a public health threat.
