The Latest Information on Microplastics and Drinking Water

Clothing, plastic water bottles, product packaging, and so much more! Plastics are constantly produced around the world. Unfortunately, there’s no way for plastics to decompose. They will always exist on Earth.

Read more about the latest information on microplastics and drinking water to gain a better understanding of the status of the issue.

What Are Microplastics?

You can probably imagine trash littered on beaches, but microplastics are more than that. Over time, microplastics break down into minuscule pieces of at least five mm. Plastics will never disappear from Earth once they’re made.

Microplastics find their way into the soil, air, ocean, and freshwater sources. Since they’re incredibly small, it’s easy for the fibers to seep into these parts of worldwide ecosystems.

The Effect of Microplastics on Humans

Not only is pollution a concern, but the impact on people’s health is a major worry. The health effects microplastics have on humans are still unknown. Microplastics seeping into the earth are growing health concerns.

There’s no definitive answer on how microplastics affect human health. According to the San Francisco Examiner, studies conducted by Coffin et al. on the effects of mice ingesting microplastics concluded that the ingestion led to kidney and liver issues, altered metabolism, and inflammation. With the effects found during these tests, it’s safe to assume that microplastics will also harm human health after frequent consumption.

California Paves the Way

As of 2023, no states have any regulations for monitoring or removing microplastics from water supplies. However, there is progress in one state on the west coast.

California is the first state in the U.S. to create legislation on regulating microplastics. By the end of the year, they will have rules in place to test for microplastics in the drinking water. In 2024, each water provider must implement the required microplastic testing systems to ensure the water is clean.

It’s a work in progress. For the remainder of the year, California will continue to research ways to implement the program effectively. The hope is for other states to pursue similar endeavors following the success of California’s plan.

With the latest information provided here, it’s evident that there needs to be a change in minimizing microplastic presence. Since no programs are in place to regulate them in the drinking water, it’s up to you to make the change in your own home.

Reverse Osmosis Systems are the most effective systems that remove microplastics from drinking water. They use a semi-permeable membrane to remove contaminants like chlorine, calcium, and microplastics.