Health specialists have raised concerns about a harmful hydrocarbon detected in plastic water bottles, warning that it could be damaging our organs.
According to industry reports, North Americans consumed 16.2 billion gallons of bottled water in 2024, marking a 2 percent increase from the previous year. While many believe that choosing premium brands like Evian or Fiji Water is a healthy choice, scientists caution that it may actually be harming your health.
What Previous Research Says About Bottled Water
Earlier studies conducted by Columbia and Rutgers Universities found that a liter of bottled water contains an average of 240,000 nanoplastic and microplastic fragments.
Microplastics—tiny particles formed from the breakdown of larger plastics—are commonly found in cosmetics, cleaning products, and, notably, single-use plastic water bottles.
By analyzing five samples from three popular bottled water brands, researchers identified seven types of plastics in the water, including:
- Polyamide (a type of nylon)
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (a polyester commonly used in plastic bottles)
- Polystyrene
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggested that most of these microplastics originate from the plastic packaging itself.
The Impact on Our Organs
Once consumed, these microscopic plastic shards can travel to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. Alarmingly, they can also cross the placental boundary of a pregnant individual, potentially affecting an unborn child, according to CNN.
Following this initial investigation, a new study published in Communications Biology has pinpointed the kidneys as the organ most affected by microplastic consumption.
This research, titled “Activation of gut metabolite ACSL4/LPCAT3 by microplastics in drinking water mediates ferroptosis via gut–kidney axis,” discovered that microplastics serve as primary carriers of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP).
BaP is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon known to:
- Cause cancer
- Lead to genetic mutations
- Harm fertility (as noted by the European Chemicals Agency – ECHA)
- Trigger allergic skin reactions
- Be extremely toxic to aquatic life
The study warns that bottled water is a major source of microplastic exposure, stating that BaP-laden plastic particles are damaging the intestinal lining, disrupting kidney function, and causing widespread inflammation.
How to Reduce Microplastic Intake
The good news? You can significantly cut down your microplastic consumption by eliminating plastic water bottles from your daily routine.
Experts recommend installing a high-quality water filter on your tap, which could reduce microplastic intake by 90 percent.
A Genomic Press study further revealed that switching from bottled to filtered tap water can reduce yearly microplastic ingestion from 90,000 to just 4,000 particles.
Researchers acknowledge that completely avoiding microplastics is impossible, stating:
“Given the widespread presence of microplastics in the environment, completely eliminating exposure is unrealistic. A more practical approach is to reduce the most significant sources of microplastic intake.”
Additional Ways to Limit Microplastic Exposure
If bottled water is a non-negotiable for you, there are still steps you can take to reduce microplastic consumption:
- Store food in glass containers instead of plastic tubs.
- Use stainless steel straws rather than plastic ones.
- Be mindful of seafood consumption, as marine life often contains microplastics.
- Swap plastic bags for cotton tote bags when shopping.
- Choose organic clothing to avoid synthetic microfibers.
- Use public transportation when possible, as fewer vehicles on the road lead to reduced plastic pollution in the environment.
By making these small changes, you can minimize your exposure to harmful microplastics while contributing to a healthier planet.