Microplastics are bits of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters, too small to be seen by the naked eye. Sometimes they are intentionally created, like microbeads in exfoliating scrubs.
Other times, they’re accidental, like what happens after clothes are washed in a washing machine or seals are broken on plastic bottle twist-off lids.
The problem is that microplastics don’t just stay in one place. Since they don’t break down quickly, they can accumulate in ecosystems. We’ve found some in the soil, and the air, and even in the bloodstreams of various animals. How they affect humans is an area of ongoing research and concern.
But I grew up using and seeing plastic everywhere. Like a lot of people, I had a plastic bag to hold plastic bags. I had plastic bottles of water in the trunk of my car, “just in case”. I peeled plastic off jerky from the gas station, and tore little flaps on the tops of my coffee cup.
Sure, we cut the six pack rings and recycled what we could, but there’s no getting completely away from the stuff. At least not yet. More and more research is being done on bioplastics, methods of fully reusing plastic, and even engineering bacteria to eat plastic and poop oxygen.
Microplastics in Tap Water
But microplastics in tap water have become a growing concern for a lot of people. It can enter water sources from runoff, where rainwater carries plastic particles from streets into rivers and lakes. It can be released during the treatment of wastewater, as some treatment plants are not designed to remove these tiny particles.
And the most anxiety-inducing sources are when larger plastic items break down over time. So the Pacific Garbage Patch, both East and West, aren’t just a horrifying result of human consumption, but also a source for microplastics.
Studies have detected microplastics in tap water, from various locations around the world, in both developed and developing countries. They have been found in both surface water and groundwater sources that serve as the raw water supply for drinking water treatment plants.
But current regulations and water quality standards do not specifically address microplastics. This is mostly because there is a lack of standardized methods for sampling, analyzing, and regulating microplastics in water. The absence of specific guidelines makes it challenging for authorities to establish and enforce limits on microplastics in drinking water.
Measuring Microplastics in Water
But progress is being made. It is possible to test for microplastics in tap water, but it requires specialized methods and equipment. Detecting and quantifying microplastics in water samples can be a complex process due to the small size of the particles and the potential for contamination during sampling and analysis.
One of the traditional methods involves filtering water samples through a fine mesh, such as a membrane filter, to capture particles. The filtered material is then examined under a microscope to identify and count microplastics. Another method uses infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to identify the chemical composition of particles, including plastics. There are some places that use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy, to capture detailed images of microplastics.
From fluorescence microscopy to chemical digestion to flow cytometry and PCR, scientific progress is paving the way towards creating the standards and guidelines that will help authorities establish and enforce limits on microplastics.
But the field is evolving and the real question, for most people, is: what can I do about it now?
Steps to Limit Exposure to Microplastics in Water
The first step is to avoid plastic bottled water. Not only can the bottles themselves generate microplastics, the water inside them can come from sources contaminated with microplastics. From this point, you can also choose metal or glass containers whenever possible. Admittedly, this makes carrying a gallon of milk much more of a workout!
The next step is to consider filtering your water. Most commercial in-line water filters are a combination of a screen and an absorbing material. The screen size, in microns, is almost always mentioned. (If it isn’t, then you should be extremely skeptical of the brand). And they are usually less than 1 micron.
Remember how microplastics are 5 millimeters or less? Well, 1 millimeter is 1000 microns. So any in-line filter, rated below 1 micron, will absolutely filter out microplastics from your tapwater.
Will this solve the microplastic problem? No.
Will this help you reduce the amount of microplastics you ingest? Yes.
And until science can catch up to the problem, that’s as good a solution as any.