(NewsNation) — New research has found that people who drink from plastic water bottles daily are ingesting significantly higher amounts of microplastics compared to those who don’t.
It’s estimated that people consume 39,000 to 52,000 particles of microplastic every year from eating and drinking. But the amount spikes to 90,000 particles for those who regularly drink water from plastic bottles, according to research from Concordia University published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
These particles are generated during the manufacturing, storage and transportation of the bottles and get released with exposure to sunlight, temperature change and physical manipulation. They’re barely visible to the naked eye, typically less than a millimeter in size, and can seamlessly enter the bloodstream.
“Drinking water from plastic bottles is fine in an emergency, but it is not something that should be used in daily life,” the head author of the study said. “Even if there are no immediate effects on the human body, we need to understand the potential for chronic harm.”
The long-term effects of microplastics in our bodies remain unclear, but early studies indicate high levels of exposure can lead to hormone disturbances, impaired reproductive function and nervous system damage.
The author also noted that even though governments around the world are working to limit plastic waste, they’ve had a narrow scope focused on items like plastic bags and straws, saying it’s essential that lawmakers take aim at regulating single-use plastic water bottles to reduce their use.
