Whenever you purchase a mineral water bottle, you make sure it’s clear and there is nothing in there, but did you know? It Contains 10× More Plastic Than The Regular Limit i.e. 250,000 Fragments!
These tiny little but cancerous particles, distinct from larger counterparts called microplastics, have a size comparable to viruses, presenting a potential risk to the regular functioning of human cells!
Nanoplastics in Water Bottles:
In a recent study conducted by Columbia University and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers made a concerning discovery – your average water bottle is hiding a silent threat. A quarter million bits of “nanoplastics,” tiny enough to rival viruses, were found in every bottle. These minute particles, different from their larger counterparts known as microplastics, share a size akin to viruses, posing a potential threat to the normal functioning of human cells.
Beizhan Yan, a researcher from Columbia University, stressed that while we already know about microplastics in the environment because they’re quite big and can be seen with a special microscope, this study goes deeper into something called nanoplastics.
These are way smaller—thousands of times tinier—measured in billionths of a meter. Yan says the smaller the particles, the easier it is for them to get inside our bodies, crossing different barriers and possibly causing issues in our cells.
Nano plastics Impact on The Human Body:
The concern over nanoplastics extends beyond their size. A separate study by The Lancet, released in December, highlighted the hazardous impact of both nanoplastics and microplastics on the human body. The researchers behind the study listed a range of potential health issues.
List Of Potential Health Issues –
- Oxidative stress
- Inflammation
- Immune dysfunction
- Altered biochemical and energy metabolism
- Impaired cell proliferation
- Disrupted microbial metabolic pathways
- Abnormal organ development
- Carcinogenicity
The PNAS study, however, takes a step further by using a new laser imaging method to identify the specific plastic polymers entering our bodies. The researchers ran water from three common brands through an extremely fine-grained filter, trapping particles measurable on a scale of billionths of a meter. Surprisingly, only 10% of the total nanoparticles discovered were identified, indicating the presence of unidentified particles such as microscopic clays, metals, and degraded plastics that imaging technology could not detect.
Chemical structure emerges as a major concern in the study. The authors note that plastics with a chemical composition similar to living creatures can mimic key biological processes and imitate chemical messengers in the human body. Polyethene Terephthalate (PET) was predominant among the plastics identified in the bottles. PET. Sare is considered generally safe & forms the structure of bottles, but raised concerns due to their prevalence in the water.
The study also revealed a variety of potentially dangerous nanoplastics like nylon, polystyrene ( also called styrofoam), & polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
These plastics, when breaking down, release toxic monomers & contain harmful additives, posing threats to the nervous & endocrine systems. An ironic finding was the presence of plastic compounds in the water, matching those in reverse-osmosis filters, suggesting potential leaching during filtration.
Health risks associated with nanoplastics are particularly alarming for vulnerable groups. The very young & elderly are identified as the particularly susceptible. Nanoplastics, being small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier, may lead to neural degeneration in the elderly, whose blood-brain barrier is technically “looser.” Additionally, these particles may cause cell damage & cross the placenta, posing potential threats to the developing fetus!
The embryonic nervous system, kidneys, & reproductive cells are particularly vulnerable & pose a threat from the impact of nanoplastics. These particles can enter umbilical veins, hampering cellular processes critical for the disposal of cellular debris & threatening the average growth of the fetus’s heart. The study suggests that nanoplastics may make it harder for cells in fetal brain tissues to survive.
Beyond the direct impact on specific organs, the study indicates potential harm to the human digestive system. Plastics entering the body by drinking water may interfere with key microbial communities in your human gut! PET, in particular, is responsible for disrupting the balance of gut bacteria, fostering harmful bacteria growth & suppressing beneficial ones
New research on animals adds to the evidence showing potential health problems linked to nanoplastics. Rats exposed to Styrofoam nanoparticles in water experienced heart issues due to particle accumulation, leading to swelling and heart failure. Similarly, studies on mice revealed that minute plastic particles can induce cell death in the intestinal lining and heightened gut inflammation.
Despite the comprehensive findings, numerous questions remain unanswered. Researchers emphasize the need to assess nanoplastic levels in bottled water versus tap water throughout India, urging scientists to delve further into these discoveries!
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For More Detail – Bottled Water Can Contain Hundreds of Thousands of Nanoplastics | Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
