Microplastics which are technically plastic fragments smaller than 5mm, have become one of the most pervasive pollutants on the planet. They've been found in tap water, bottled water, rainwater, Arctic ice, and the deepest ocean trenches. And increasingly, they've been found in us.
The Scale of the Problem
A landmark 2024 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found an average of 240,000 nanoplastic particles per litre of bottled water - roughly 100 times more than previous estimates that only measured microplastics.
Tap water fares better but still contains significant quantities. Studies of UK tap water have found microplastic particles in every sample tested, with concentrations varying by region and water source.
Micro vs. Nano: Size Matters
The distinction between microplastics and nanoplastics is critically important:
- Microplastics (5mm–1μm) — visible under a standard microscope. Can be trapped by fine physical filters.
- Nanoplastics (<1μm) — invisible to standard microscopy. Small enough to cross cell membranes and enter the bloodstream.
It's the nanoplastics that concern researchers most. A 2022 study in the journal Environment International detected microplastic particles in human blood for the first time, confirming that these particles can enter the circulatory system.
Researchers have now detected plastic particles in human blood, lung tissue, placental tissue, and breast milk confirming that environmental microplastics are entering our bodies.
What's the Health Risk?
Research is still emerging, but early findings suggest several potential mechanisms of harm:
- Physical irritation — particles can trigger inflammatory responses in tissues
- Chemical carriers — plastics absorb and concentrate environmental toxins, delivering them into cells
- Endocrine disruption — plastic additives like BPA and phthalates can mimic hormones
- Gut microbiome effects — particles may alter the balance of gut bacteria
Can Water Filters Remove Microplastics?
Standard jug filters (typically rated at 10–50 microns) cannot capture microplastics at the smaller end of the scale, and are completely ineffective against nanoplastics.
Reverse osmosis removes virtually all plastic particles but wastes significant water and strips beneficial minerals.
Precision ultrafiltration at 0.05 microns (50 nanometres) sits in the sweet spot: fine enough to physically block microplastics and the vast majority of nanoplastics, while preserving mineral content and wasting zero water. It's the most practical approach to meaningfully reducing your daily plastic exposure through drinking water.
