The research reveals that plastic bottles are contaminating the body with toxic particles.
A new study has found that water stored in plastic bottles is contaminated with millions of toxic microplastic particles.
Drinking water from plastic bottles means that the body is being contaminated with tiny plastic particles, and scientists are concerned that these particles may accumulate in our bodies and have unknown health consequences.
Previous studies have linked nanoplastics to conditions such as cancer, infertility, and birth defects.
In a new study, scientists have used a novel laser scanning technique to observe an average of 240,000 plastic particles in a one-liter water bottle, while the same quantity of tap water had an average of only 5.5 particles.
Researchers from Columbia University examined water bottles from three major brands sold in the United States and, using lasers, observed the presence of plastic particles in sizes up to 100 nanometers (smaller than microplastics, which are typically in the micrometer size range).
These particles are considered potentially toxic by scientists because they are so small that they can enter directly into blood cells and the brain.
These microscopic particles act as carriers for chemicals used to make plastic more durable and flexible.
In the United States, phthalates, the chemicals in question, are implicated in nearly 100,000 premature deaths annually due to their interference with hormone production in the body.