Water in plastic bottles contains 100 times more plastic than previously thought. This conclusion was reached by chemists from Columbia University in the USA, who conducted a new study, writes the Ferra portal.
They invented a microscopy technique that made it possible to detect pieces of plastic less than 1 micrometer in size. Scientists took 25 liter bottles of water, examined them and found between 110,000 and 370,000 tiny plastic particles, 90% of which were nanoplastics. Many unidentified nanoparticles were also found in the water. The water was found to contain polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, which is what most water bottles are made from, polyamide, a type of nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polymethyl methacrylate, which are used in various industrial processes.
Chemists have determined that a liter bottle contains 240 thousand pieces of plastic, and they are so tiny that they can penetrate human cells, enter the bloodstream and gradually accumulate in vital organs.
Separately, scientists checked the composition of tap water. It turned out that there are only 5.5 plastic particles in a liter of tap water.
Let us remind you that doctors associate plastic with infertility and cancer, including colon cancer. According to scientists, most plastic settles in the intestines. It is also found in the lungs, liver, spleen and even in breast milk. Moreover, nanoparticles are able to penetrate through the placenta into the body of the unborn child, so it is better for pregnant women not to drink water from plastic bottles.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
