ISLAMABAD – State University of New York study has concluded that all majorbottled water brands contain plastic contaminants. The results werereleased by a US-based non-profit media house – Orb Media – after theresearcher Sherri Mason concluded her research.
The team working on the project gathered 250 water samples from followingcountries;
– The United States, – Thailand, – India, – Kenya, – Lebanon, – Mexico, – Brazil, – Indonesia, and, – China.
The results from the research were shocking as 93% of the samples containedplastic particles of various sizes.
The samples mentioned above contain plastic particles such as nylon,polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The brands under thatwere found to contain plastic debris include;
– Dasani link> , – Aqua, – Aquafina, – Nestle Pure Life, – San Pellegrino, – Evian, – Epura, – Bisleri, – Gerolsteiner, – Minalba, and, – Wahaha
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The major source of plastic debris in the bottles was from the bottle caps.The research mentioned that nylon and PET etc, found in the samples, areused to make the bottle caps. Mason told;
In this study, 65pc of the particles we found were actually fragments andnot fibers. I think it is coming through the process of bottling the water.I think that most of the plastic that we are seeing is coming from thebottle itself, it is coming from the cap, it is coming from the industrialprocess of bottling the water
The particle concentration in the samples ranged from zero to more than10,000 plastic particles in a single bottle. The average size of theparticles was found to be 0.10 millimeters. These microplastics were foundat a rate of about 10.4 particles per liter while smaller particles were ingreater number – that is 325 particles per liter.
Detailing the health hazard of plastic contaminants, the report adds;
There are connections to increases in certain kinds of cancer to lowersperm count to increases in conditions like ADHD and autism. We know thatthey are connected to these synthetic chemicals in the environment and weknow that plastics are providing kind of a means to get those chemicalsinto our bodies.
The lead researcher added that tap water also contains plastic particles,however, their concentration is much lower as compared to the bottled waterwhich makes tap water safer. Another researcher added that “it’s moreurgent now than ever before to make plastic water bottles a thing of thepast.”