Do You Drink Bottled Water? You Could Be Consuming Microplastics.
Reports suggest bottled water could contain small plastic particles.
Most people have consumed bottled water during their life. It’s convenient and many of us consider bottled water to be safer than tap water. The truth is that bottled water is not safer. In fact, bottled water is not regulated by the EPA, whereas tap water must adhere to strict guidelines set to protect consumers from water contamination. In addition, many bottled waters are drawn from the same water source as tap water. So that water you are drinking is nothing more than filtered tap water packaged to sell for a fee. That’s right, it’s not all water coming from that beautiful waterfall or spring illustrated on the label. To add more fuel to the fire, that convenient, single-use bottle could be a health risk.
Of the 259 total bottles analyzed, 93% showed signs of microplastics.
What is the health risk? The bottled water you drink may contain microplastic, which you take into your body when consuming it.
A research study conducted by Sherri Mason of State University of New York Fredonia was outlined in a ConsumerAffairs.com article written by Amy Martyn. In her research, Mason tested 259 bottles of water to see if they contained plastic particles. Mason’s research found that “of the 259 total bottles analyzed, 93% showed signs of microplastics.
This is startling because bottled water is the fastest-growing part of the beverage industry, currently a $100 billion dollar market segment. That means that the number of people at risk of drinking water contaminated by plastic is rapidly expanding. Mason stated, “I think that most of the plastic that we are seeing is coming from the bottle itself, it is coming from the cap, it is coming from the industrial process of bottling the water.” So not only is bottled water harming the environment due to plastic waste, but it is also harming our health when we ingest microplastics. And the microplastics are not leaching into the water over time. It’s happening as soon as the bottle is filled.
This does not mean that tap water is free of issue. As a matter of fact, most tap water samples do have traces of microplastics according to the Consumer Affairs Article. The catch is that the concentration of plastic particles in tap water is much lower. Another study mentioned in Martyn's article, conducted by scientist Barbara Ingham from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that bottled water is most likely no better for human consumption than tap water, and tap water is significantly less expensive.
Learn more about Kinetico Drinking Water Systems
So, what’s the solution to this water problem? Consider installing an in-home water filtration system to remove contaminants from your water. You can install a specialty solution, or a drinking water filter attached to one tap in your home. By doing this, you put the power in your own hands to remove contaminants from your water and you reduce the plastic waste in the environment by eliminating bottled water from your life. When you take this step, you can have peace of mind about your health and your environmental footprint.
Take the next step to eliminate bottled water from your life. You can contact your local Kinetico dealer to get a quote. A water professional will help you determine what is best for your home’s needs, whether that is a K5 Drinking Water Station®, one of our industry-leading water softeners. No matter the decision you make, be aware of your home’s water situation and protect your health.