Is There Bottled Water Without Microplastics?
Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that break off from their original source such as plastic water bottles, plastic cookware, synthetic clothing, care tires, or essentially any other plastic product.
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These particles can leach into our water, air, food, and even our skin when present in the surrounding environment. These tiny invasive elements wreak havoc on our hormones, lungs, gut, brain function, and in more ways that still have not been fully researched.
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You can read more about microplastics on our article covering the topic.
Read More: What Are Microplastics And Their Health Effects On Humans
Are any brands of water bottles free of microplastics?
No. Single-use and reusable plastic water bottles have or will shed microplastics into the liquids they contain. The inconvenient truth about microplastics and their smaller counterpart, nanoplastics, is that they can now be found in nearly every water source on earth. Even if the water was filtered adequately, the microplastics are only reintroduced into the water if the bottle itself is made of plastic.
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My refillable bottle is "BPA-free" - shouldn't I be safe from microplastics?
The term BPA - bisphenol A - is an industry chemical used to make some plastic since the 1950's. In recent years, many brands have advertised their products, specifically water bottle and kitchenware brands, as 'BPA-free', since studies have shown that this plastic chemical could affect the health of developing children, fertility, and cause irregular sexual functions for both men and women. Chemical and plastic industries have since then replaced BPA with other bisphenols such as BPS and BPF, but unfortunately these substitutions are proving to be just as bad for our endocrine systems, if not worse than BPA.
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Read More: What is BPA (Bishpenol A)? Is BPA-Free Plastic Safe?
In reality, it is best to limit or remove all plastic exposure from your daily routine. Even other plastics that are regarded as 'safe', such as silicone, a material commonly used for drinking straws, baby bottles, and kitchenware, have also found to leech plastics into liquids over time.
What are my alternatives to bottled water?
The first step to reducing microplastic exposure through water ingestion is to get a proper water filter to remove microplastics. In order to filter microplastics from water, you will need at least a quality-grade reverse osmosis water filter.
Read More: What Is Reverse Osmosis, And How Does It Filter Microplastics?
There are a variety of RO water filtration systems to select from that allow you to prioritize simplicity or efficiency when filtering drinking water.
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Product Guides: Top 3 Countertop and Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filters For Microplastics
After your water is filtered, you then need to store it in an inert, non-plastic container. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to plastic water bottles. Stainless steel water bottles are a great option and thankfully already quite common on the market. I would recommend a larger bottle to carry around daily so 100% of your drinking water is filtered.
Alternatively, a titanium water bottle is another great solution for those interested in a lighter weight but more expensive option. The saved weight could end up useful for backpackers and ultra-light hikers who need to save every ounce they can on their trips.
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See: Top 8 Plastic-Free Water Bottles to Ditch Microplastics in 2024
How can I continue to reduce my microplastic exposure?
We have curated a list of essential steps and substitutions you can start making today in order to reduce you and your family's microplastic exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and absorption.
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Read More: Going Microplastic-Free Guide
Microplastics can be incredibly small - the white bars represent 1 mm for scale. Martin Wagner et al.
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Water stored in any plastic containers will contain microplastics regardless of their source. Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich).
Most reverse osmosis filters are either standalone countertop units or under sink installations.
Plastics break down into smaller particles and are released into the environment.
Prioritize the most important steps to reducing microplastic intake in order.
BPA-free stamps on plastic molding indicate there is no BPA in it's manufacturing, but doesn't indicate that other toxic bisphenols weren't used, such as BPS or BPF. This Nalgene water bottle is listed with Resin Code "7" for 'other plastic or mixture of plastics'.