Is your fridge feeding you microplastics?
For the past two decades, kitchen appliance companies have included water dispensers in higher-end refrigerator models that tap directly into a water supply, providing quick and easy access to cold, filtered water. But exactly what kind of filters are used in these fridges, and can they actually remove microplastics from our drinking water?
A leader in the refrigerator market, Whirlpool, claims their everyDrop refrigerator filters use a three stage filter capable of ‘particle, micro, and absorption filtration’. There’s a lot of marketing that goes into their description, but these are really just simple activated carbon filters.
Activated carbon is a form of carbon made from natural materials such as coconut husks or coal. These molecules have microscopic pores that essentially capture impurities in water and air, making them a popular option for the purification of water to a basic standard.
Whirlpool was just an example, but nearly all refrigerator companies use this activated carbon filtering method. They are simple and cheap to manufacture, but these brands still charge upwards of $50 or more for a filter replacement every 6 months that doesn’t filter most smaller contaminants.
The carbon filters used in refrigerators are only NSF 42/53 rated by the National Science Foundation’s standards for water treatment systems, meaning they can only remove lead, chlorine, some heavy metals and bacteria, and other larger impurities while improving odor and taste.
When it comes to smaller particles like microplastics, sometimes one micrometer or less, carbon filters will not be the most effective for this use case.
This also means that fridge-stored pitcher filters of the same activated carbon filter design such as Brita and Zerowater are just as ineffective at removing microplastics.
In fact, fridge units often utilize plastic piping in their water dispensing systems, made from PE (polyethylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Since carbon filters require long contact times to be effective (meaning the water needs more time to be filtered), in-fridge filter models also commonly pre-filter and store readily dispensable water in a plastic container, also made from PE or PVC.
Both of these types of plastics can shed particles into water especially with extended use over years, so your fridge-filtered water is likely to contain even more microplastics than regular tap water.
Even though there are no consumer-available filters capable of removing microplastics built directly into refrigerator models, there are still ways to drink microplastic-free water at home. Investing in a reverse osmosis system is a great first step towards reducing your microplastic exposure via drinking water.
Countertop RO filter systems are the easiest to setup, requiring no installation, and are perfect for apartments where plumbing can’t be accessed adequately.
Under-sink RO filter systems are hidden underneath your kitchen sink, keeping countertop space available, and do not require manual refilling like countertop systems.
Whole-house RO filter systems are the end-all solution, bringing microplastic-filtered water into your home from the beginning for uses outside the kitchen, such as bathing and laundering.
Once you have set up one of these options, it’s also important to then store your water in plastic-free bottles made from glass, stainless steel, or other inert materials. Microplastics shed from plastic bottles and containers can re-contaminate water that was previously filtered.
Ensuring your water is microplastic-free is the most important step to take for reducing exposure, but did you know you are ingesting, inhaling, and absorbing plastics daily in other ways?
Check out our Going Microplastic-Free Guide for more information on the best ways to limit your microplastic exposure and improve your health.
