CNN
According to a groundbreaking research, scientists have determined that packaged water available in retail stores may contain significantly higher amounts of plastic particles - ranging from 10 to 100 times more than previously believed. These plastic bits are in the form of nanoparticles, which are so minuscule that they cannot be observed through a microscope.
The production of plastic water bottles is on the rise, posing a significant issue. Here's an explanation of why this is a major concern according to a recent UN report on climate change.
According to experts, nanoplastics, which are 1,000 times smaller than the average human hair, have the ability to travel through the digestive tract or lungs and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to the distribution of synthetic chemicals that may be harmful throughout the body and into cells.
According to a recent study, a volume of one liter of water, which is the same as two regular-sized bottled waters, had an average of 240,000 plastic particles composed of seven different types of plastics. Of these, 90% were classified as nanoplastics while the remaining 10% were microplastics.
Microplastics refer to small pieces of polymers that can vary in size, with the smallest being less than 0.2 inch (5 millimeters) and the tiniest measuring 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer). Anything smaller than this is considered a nanoplastic, which is measured in billionths of a meter.
According to Sherri "Sam" Mason, who was not involved in the research, the study is highly impressive. She mentions that the amount of effort put into the research was truly remarkable and she would even describe it as groundbreaking. Mason is the director of sustainability at Penn State Behrend in Erie, Pennsylvania.
According to Mason, the latest discovery supports the longstanding recommendation from experts to consume tap water using glass or stainless steel containers in order to minimize exposure. This guidance also applies to other products, such as food and beverages, that are packaged in plastic, as stated by Mason.
According to the speaker, while people may not consider it, plastics also experience shedding. This process is similar to how our skin constantly sheds cells. Plastics constantly release small pieces, like when we open a plastic container of prepackaged salad or a cheese that is wrapped in plastic.
What is the quantity of nanoplastics?
According to a 2018 research co-authored by Mason, micro- and nanoplastics were found in 93% of bottled water samples from 11 different brands across nine countries.
According to a recent study, the presence of microplastics may have an impact on cloud formation and potentially influence weather patterns. This discovery highlights the potential effects of plastic pollution on the climate.
Based on a previous research conducted by Mason, it was revealed that every contaminated liter of water contained an average of 10 plastic particles that were larger than a human hair, in addition to 300 smaller particles. However, five years prior, there was no method available to examine these minuscule pieces or determine their quantity.
According to Mason, the existence of nanoplastics was not unknown to us, it was just that our ability to analyze them was limited.
The chemical analysis of nanoparticles in bottled water was presented by researchers from Columbia University in a new study published on Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This new technology allows for the visualization, quantification, and examination of the chemical structure of the nanoparticles.
The recent study conducted by the team revealed that the number of plastic particles in three popular brands of water sold in the United States is significantly higher, ranging from 110,000 to 370,000, instead of the previously estimated 300 per liter. However, the authors chose not to disclose the names of the bottled water brands that were examined.
According to Beizhan Yan, an associate research professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, the latest technology successfully detected numerous nanoparticles in the water. These particles could fall into three categories: inorganic nanoparticles, organic particles, and plastic particles that were not included in the seven major types that were studied.
According to Jane Houlihan, the research director for Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, an organization focused on reducing babies' exposure to neurotoxic chemicals, the study's groundbreaking methods pave the way for additional research that can enhance our understanding of potential health risks to humans. Houlihan, who was not part of the study, believes that this research has opened up new opportunities for further exploration.
According to Houlihan, there is a concern about the widespread exposure of humans to tiny plastic particles, which could potentially pose unknown risks. Infants and young children, who are more susceptible to the effects of toxic substances due to their developing brains and bodies, may be particularly at risk. This information was shared in an email and can be found in an article discussing the potential impact of plastic and phthalates on infant brain development.
Health Hazards Faced by Humans
According to experts, the most concerning form of plastic pollution for human health is nanoplastics. This is because these tiny particles have the ability to penetrate individual cells and tissues in vital organs, potentially disrupting cellular processes and releasing endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants, per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), and heavy metals.
Experts share tips on reducing PFAS in drinking water
According to Mason, all the chemicals involved in plastic production are also present in any plastic that enters our body. Due to the body's higher temperature compared to the outside, these chemicals will inevitably seep out from the plastic and into our bodies.
According to Mason, the chemicals have the potential to reach your liver, kidney, and brain, and can even cross the placental boundary, ultimately affecting an unborn child.
According to Phoebe Stapleton, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers University's Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in Piscataway, New Jersey, plastic chemicals were discovered in the brain, heart, liver, kidney, and lungs of developing baby mice within 24 hours of their pregnant mother consuming or inhaling plastic particles during studies.
According to Stapleton, human placenta, lung tissues, feces, and blood have all been discovered to contain micro and nanoplastics.
Apart from the potential presence of chemicals and toxic metals, the impact of the plastic polymer itself on the human body remains a relatively unexplored topic.
According to experts, the consumption of water can be made safer by using containers made of glass or stainless steel.
According to Mason, the latest development in the field of plastics is gaining knowledge about the polymers, which make up the plastic. Our understanding of the potential effects of these polymers on human health has been restricted due to our inability to detect them at a deeper level. However, with this novel method, we will now have the capability to do so.
The study's findings were responded to by CNN through reaching out to the International Bottled Water Association, an organization that represents the industry.
According to a representative from the association, the scientific community must thoroughly evaluate this novel approach and further investigation is necessary in order to establish uniform techniques for assessing and quantifying nanoplastics in our surroundings. They communicated this to CNN through email.
At present, there is a lack of widely accepted procedures and no agreement among experts on the possible health consequences of nano- and microplastic particles. As a result, media coverage on the presence of these particles in drinking water serves only to cause unnecessary alarm among consumers.
What types of plastic are you ingesting?
The novel approach used in the research to detect nanoparticles present in bottled water utilizes a modified form of Raman spectroscopy, a laser-assisted method that examines the cellular chemical makeup by measuring the vibrational response of molecules to light.
Important Information Regarding the Safety of Tupperware and Plastic Containers
According to Wei Min, a professor of chemistry at Columbia University in New York City and senior author, SRS or stimulated Raman scattering microscopy, which is a modified version, incorporates a second laser to greatly enhance the initial signal. This amplification can detect previously undetectable nanoparticles. The invention of SRS was a collaborative effort by Wei Min and others in 2008, as reported in the Science journal.
According to Min, this is the initial study to utilize this microscopy technique in the field of nanoplastics.
Using SRS, it is now possible to quickly and accurately capture images of nanoparticles in mere microseconds, a significant improvement from the previous method which took hours and posed a risk of tissue damage. This advancement in imaging technology greatly enhances the clarity of images obtained.
According to Yan, simply being able to observe the particles is insufficient since there is no way to determine if it is plastic or not. Therefore, our team has created a new technology using machine learning, which enables us to accurately identify and categorize the specific type of plastic.
When the study was published, the algorithm had the capability to detect seven different kinds of plastics, including polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate.
According to the lead author Naixin Qian, a doctoral student in chemistry at Columbia University, the majority of microplastics in bottled water were predicted to originate from the plastic bottle itself. This is because the bottles are commonly made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic, based on previous research.
According to the speaker, the research discovered a variety of plastic types present in a water bottle. These plastic types also varied in size distribution, with PET particles being larger and others as small as 200 nanometers.
According to research, it has been discovered that PET plastic particles can detach from the bottle cap through repeated opening and closing, crushing, or exposure to heat, such as inside a vehicle.
There is still a lot of research that needs to be conducted.
With the ability to identify and categorize nanoplastics, there is now potential to study a variety of inquiries. One such question being, if the nanoplastics found in bottled water did not originate from the bottle, where did they originate from? The team at Columbia is currently exploring a theory that these other nanoplastics could be coming from the source water, potentially contaminated during the manufacturing process.
According to a recent study, the presence of microplastics may have the ability to induce cloud formation and potentially impact weather patterns. This study brings to light the potential effects of plastic pollution on the climate.
A crucial inquiry to consider is whether bottled water or tap water contains a lower amount of nanoplastics and chemical residues.
According to Yan, numerous studies have indicated a decrease in microplastic levels found in tap water, which leads to the possibility of lower levels of nanoplastic in tap water due to their shared sources. Currently, research is being conducted on this matter.
After the plastic polymer and endocrine-disrupting chemicals have entered the cells of the body, what occurs? Will the intruders persist, causing chaos by interfering with or harming cellular functions, or will the body manage to expel them?
According to Stapleton, the entry of microparticles into the body is a known fact. The smaller nanoparticles are able to penetrate cells in higher proportions, but their exact destination and function within the cell are still unknown. Additionally, it is uncertain if and how these particles are exiting the cell.
According to Min, the recently developed technology is highly suitable for examining tissue samples from humans and is expected to yield results in the near future.
According to Min, our raw data consists of a sequence of images. We have ample evidence to demonstrate that when a particle enters a specific area within a specific cell, we can accurately determine its position in space.
According to Houlihan from Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, there are steps individuals can take to minimize their contact with plastics, while science continues to investigate these inquiries and others.
According to Houlihan, it is possible to prevent the consumption of plastic-packaged food and drinks by opting for natural fabrics in clothing and choosing consumer goods made from natural materials. By being mindful of the amount of plastic in our daily routines, we can actively seek out alternative options when available.