Bottled Water Study Reveals Presence of Microscopic Nanoplastics Capable of Penetrating Cells
Bottled water harbors millions of minuscule particles, including thousands of nanoplastics that infiltrate cells, risking human health Further research is imperative
In a groundbreaking new study, scientists have found that bottled water available for purchase can contain 10 to 100 times more microplastic particles than previously thought - nanoparticles so incredibly small that they cannot be detected under a microscope.
Disposed plastic water bottles blanket a beach in New Taipei, Taiwan in 2022.
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The plastic water bottle industry is thriving, but that poses a significant issue. Nanoplastics, which are 1,000 times thinner than a human hair, have the ability to travel through our tissues and into our bloodstream, carrying harmful synthetic chemicals throughout our bodies and into our cells, according to experts.
A new study found that one liter of water, equivalent to two standard-size bottled waters, contained an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics. Of these particles, 90% were identified as nanoplastics and the remaining 10% were microplastics. Microplastics are polymer fragments that can range in size from less than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) down to 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer), while nanoplastics are even smaller and must be measured in billionths of a meter.
Sherri "Sam" Mason, director of sustainability at Penn State Behrend in Erie, Pennsylvania, who was not involved in the study, expressed great admiration for the impressive and groundbreaking body of work. She emphasized that the study's new finding reinforces the long-held expert advice to drink tap water from glass or stainless steel containers to reduce exposure, extending to other foods and drinks packaged in plastic as well.
"People often overlook the shedding of plastics, but it is a common occurrence," she explained. "Similar to how our skin constantly sheds cells, plastics also shed tiny particles, especially when we open plastic containers for our pre-packaged salads or unwrap plastic-wrapped cheese."
How numerous are nanoplastics?
Mason, along with other researchers, coauthored a groundbreaking 2018 study that revealed the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in 93% of samples of bottled water from 11 different brands across nine countries.
May 23, 2018 - Tai'An, Tai'an, China - The sunset scenery at Mount Tai in Tai'an, located in east China's Shandong Province. Mount Tai holds historical and cultural significance and is situated north of the city of Tai'an, in Shandong province, China. (Credit Image: © SIPA Asia via ZUMA Wire)
Jia Guangrui/SIPA/Zuma
New study suggests that microplastics may influence cloud formation and impact the weather. Mason's previous research revealed that every contaminated liter of water contained an average of 10 plastic particles wider than a human hair, as well as 300 smaller particles. However, until recently, there was no method to analyze these minuscule fragments or determine their prevalence.
Mason clarified, "It's not that we were unaware of the existence of nanoplastics. The issue lay in our inability to analyze them." The latest research, featured in Monday's issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, unveils a groundbreaking technology developed by Columbia University researchers that is capable of detecting, quantifying, and examining the chemical composition of nanoparticles found in bottled water.
The team's latest study revealed that instead of 300 plastic bits per liter, three popular brands of water sold in the United States contained between 110,000 and 370,000, and potentially even more. The authors did not specify which brands of bottled water were included in the study.
Additionally, the new technology was able to detect millions of nanoparticles in the water, including inorganic and organic particles, as well as plastic particles outside of the seven major types studied. According to Beizhan Yan, an associate research professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and coauthor, this is a significant finding.
The new techniques introduced in the study pave the way for additional research to gain a better understanding of the potential risks to human health, according to Jane Houlihan, research director for Healthy Babies, Bright Futures. The organization, which is dedicated to reducing babies' exposure to neurotoxic chemicals, consists of nonprofits, scientists, and donors. Houlihan, who was not involved in the study, stated in an email that the findings indicate widespread human exposure to tiny plastic particles that pose largely unstudied risks. She also noted that infants and young children may be at the greatest risk, as their developing brains and bodies are often more susceptible to the impacts of toxic exposures.
Human health risks
Experts are most concerned about nanoplastics when it comes to the health risks associated with plastic pollution. These tiny particles can enter cells and tissues in important organs, potentially disrupting cellular processes and leaving behind harmful chemicals like bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants, per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), and heavy metals.
Healthcare Concept. Unrecognizable African Girl Drinking Glass of Mineral Water At Home, Cropped Image, Panorama With Copy Space
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"All these chemicals are utilized in the production of plastic, so when plastic enters our bodies, it brings along these chemicals. And due to the higher body temperature compared to the outside, these chemicals will seep out of the plastic and enter our bodies," Mason elaborated.
"These chemicals can travel to vital organs such as the liver, kidney, and brain, and can even cross the placental barrier to affect an unborn child," Mason warned.
Researchers discovered plastic chemicals in the brains, hearts, livers, kidneys, and lungs of developing baby mice just 24 hours after pregnant mothers ingested or inhaled plastic particles.In addition to this, study coauthor Phoebe Stapleton, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers Universitys Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in Piscataway, New Jersey said, "Micro and nanoplastics have been detected in the human placenta, lung tissues, feces, and blood."
In addition to the chemicals and toxic metals plastics may carry, another relatively unstudied area is whether the plastic polymer itself is also harming the body.
Using a glass or stainless steel containers is a safer way to consume water, experts say.
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Mason explained, "The key to advancing in plastics lies in understanding the polymers, the essential component of plastic. Our knowledge of the potential effects of polymers on human health has been restricted due to our inability to detect at such a level. With our new approach, we will now have the capability to do so."
CNN contacted the International Bottled Water Association, the industry representative, for their reaction to the findings of the study.
The scientific community needs to thoroughly review this new method and conduct further research to establish standardized methods for measuring and quantifying nanoplastics in the environment, according to a spokesperson for the association who spoke to CNN via email.
They also emphasized the lack of standardized methods and scientific consensus on the potential health impacts of nano- and microplastic particles. Therefore, media reports on these particles in drinking water only serve to needlessly alarm consumers.
Which types of plastics are being ingested?
A new technique used in the study to detect nanoparticles in bottled water involves a modified version of Raman spectroscopy, a laser-based method that can analyze the chemical makeup of cells by measuring the vibration of molecules in reaction to light.
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A modified version, known as stimulated Raman scattering microscopy or SRS, involves the addition of a second laser to "enhance the previous signal by several orders of magnitude, enabling the previously undetected nanoparticle to be identified," explained Wei Min, a chemistry professor at Columbia University in New York City and co-inventor of SRS in 2008.
Min stated that this study is the inaugural use of this microscopy technique in the realm of nanoplastics. SRS significantly enhances imaging, allowing for the clear identification and rapid capture of nanoparticle images in mere microseconds rather than the hours required by the previous method, all without causing harm to the tissues being examined.
"But simply observing the particles is insufficient because it is not easy to determine if it is plastic. In response, we have created a new machine learning technology that can accurately identify and categorize the type of plastic," Yan explained.
As of the publication date, the study's algorithm has successfully identified seven types of plastics: polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate.
Lead author Naixin Qian, a doctoral student in chemistry at Columbia University, stated that the team had anticipated that most of the microplastics in bottled water would originate from the plastic bottle itself, commonly made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic. However, the study revealed a wide variety of plastic types in bottled water, each with distinct size distributions. Qian noted that PET particles were larger, while others were as small as 200 nanometers.
to fully understand the extent and potential impact of the release of these particles into the environment.
Now that nanoplastics can be detected and categorized, it is possible to explore solutions to various questions. For instance, if the nanoplastics present in bottled water did not originate from the bottle itself, where did they come from? The team at Columbia is examining the hypothesis that the other nanoplastics may have originated from the source water, potentially contaminated during some stage of the manufacturing process.
On May 23, 2018, the sunset view of Mount Tai in Tai'an, located in the Shandong Province of eastern China, is captured. Mount Tai holds great historical and cultural importance and is situated north of the city of Tai'an. (Credit Image: © SIPA Asia via ZUMA Wire)
Microplastics could trigger cloud formation and affect the weather, new study suggests
Another important question: Which has fewer nanoplastics and chemical residues, bottled or tap water?
"Numerous studies have indicated a decrease in microplastic levels in tap water, leading to the assumption that nanoplastic levels in tap water will also be reduced due to their shared sources," Yan stated. "We are currently researching that." Have these plastic polymers and endocrine-disrupting chemicals made their way into the cells of the body? Do they linger and cause chaos by interrupting or harming cellular functions, or does the body manage to expel them?
"These microparticles are entering the body, and an even higher proportion of smaller nanoparticles are entering cells, but their precise destination within the cell and their function remain unknown," explained Stapleton. "Additionally, it is unclear whether and how they are exiting the cells. However, the new technology is ideal for examining human tissue samples and is expected to offer some insights soon," Min added.
Min explained that upon examining their raw data, it becomes evident that it is actually a sequence of images. Moreover, he pointed out that they have an abundance of data to demonstrate that if a particle enters a specific location within a certain type of cell, they would be able to pinpoint its exact location in space.
According to Healthy Babies, Bright Futures Houlihan, despite ongoing scientific exploration of these and other inquiries, individuals can take steps to minimize their exposure to plastics.
Houlihan suggested that we should refrain from using plastic containers for food and drinks, opt for clothing and consumer products made from natural materials, and consider alternatives to plastic in our daily lives whenever possible.
