IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i9p5283-d802864.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Occurrence of Microplastics in Tap and Bottled Water: Current Knowledge

Author

Listed:
  • Isabella Gambino

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Francesco Bagordo

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Tiziana Grassi

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Alessandra Panico

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Antonella De Donno

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

Abstract

A narrative review was carried out to describe the current knowledge related to the occurrence of MPs in drinking water. The reviewed studies ( n = 21) showed the presence of microplastics (MPs) in tap (TW) and bottled (BW) water, increasing concerns for public health due to the possible toxicity associated with their polymeric composition, additives, and other compounds or microorganism adsorbed on their surface. The MP concentration increase by decreasing particles size and was higher in BW than in TW. Among BW, reusable PET and glass bottles showed a higher MP contamination than other packages. The lower MP abundance in TW than in natural sources indicates a high removal rate of MPs in drinking water treatment plants. This evidence should encourage the consumers to drink TW instead of BW, in order to limit their exposure to MPS and produce less plastic waste. The high variability in the results makes it difficult to compare the findings of different studies and build up a general hypothesis on human health risk. A globally shared protocol is needed to harmonize results also in view of the monitoring plans for the emerging contaminants, including MPs, introduced by the new European regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabella Gambino & Francesco Bagordo & Tiziana Grassi & Alessandra Panico & Antonella De Donno, 2022. "Occurrence of Microplastics in Tap and Bottled Water: Current Knowledge," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5283-:d:802864
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5283/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5283/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Claudia Campanale & Carmine Massarelli & Ilaria Savino & Vito Locaputo & Vito Felice Uricchio, 2020. "A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, February.
    2. Yizheng Li & Yindan Zhang & Guanglong Chen & Kaihang Xu & Han Gong & Kai Huang & Muting Yan & Jun Wang, 2021. "Microplastics in Surface Waters and Sediments from Guangdong Coastal Areas, South China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Laurent Lebreton & Anthony Andrady, 2019. "Future scenarios of global plastic waste generation and disposal," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Cheryl Qian Ying Yong & Suresh Valiyaveettil & Bor Luen Tang, 2020. "Toxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Mammalian Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-24, February.
    5. Milene F. Diaz-Basantes & Juan A. Conesa & Andres Fullana, 2020. "Microplastics in Honey, Beer, Milk and Refreshments in Ecuador as Emerging Contaminants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-17, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yuet-Tung Tse & Sidney Man-Ngai Chan & Eric Tung-Po Sze, 2022. "Quantitative Assessment of Full Size Microplastics in Bottled and Tap Water Samples in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Zuzanna Prus & Małgorzata Wilk, 2024. "Microplastics in Sewage Sludge: Worldwide Presence in Biosolids, Environmental Impact, Identification Methods and Possible Routes of Degradation, Including the Hydrothermal Carbonization Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-26, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Diogo A. Ferreira-Filipe & Ana Paço & Armando C. Duarte & Teresa Rocha-Santos & Ana L. Patrício Silva, 2021. "Are Biobased Plastics Green Alternatives?—A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Andreas Brachner & Despina Fragouli & Iola F. Duarte & Patricia M. A. Farias & Sofia Dembski & Manosij Ghosh & Ivan Barisic & Daniela Zdzieblo & Jeroen Vanoirbeek & Philipp Schwabl & Winfried Neuhaus, 2020. "Assessment of Human Health Risks Posed by Nano-and Microplastics Is Currently Not Feasible," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-10, November.
    3. Shampa Ghosh & Jitendra Kumar Sinha & Soumya Ghosh & Kshitij Vashisth & Sungsoo Han & Rakesh Bhaskar, 2023. "Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to the Global Environment and Human Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Stefania D'Angelo & Rosaria Meccariello, 2021. "Microplastics: A Threat for Male Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    5. Leonardo Alberghini & Alessandro Truant & Serena Santonicola & Giampaolo Colavita & Valerio Giaccone, 2022. "Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Ana B. Cuevas & David E. Leiva-Candia & M. P. Dorado, 2024. "An Overview of Pyrolysis as Waste Treatment to Produce Eco-Energy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-32, June.
    7. Changping Zhao & Juanjuan Sun & Yun Zhang, 2022. "A Study of the Drivers of Decarbonization in the Plastics Supply Chain in the Post-COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Kawther Saeedi & Anna Visvizi & Dimah Alahmadi & Amal Babour, 2023. "Smart Cities and Households’ Recyclable Waste Management: The Case of Jeddah," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, April.
    9. Dong Sheng & Siyuan Jing & Xueqing He & Alexandra-Maria Klein & Heinz-R. Köhler & Thomas C. Wanger, 2024. "Plastic pollution in agricultural landscapes: an overlooked threat to pollination, biocontrol and food security," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    10. Nawaz, Ahmad & Razzak, Shaikh Abdur, 2024. "Co-pyrolysis of biomass and different plastic waste to reduce hazardous waste and subsequent production of energy products: A review on advancement, synergies, and future prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    11. Stoett, Peter & Scrich, Vitória M. & Elliff, Carla I. & Andrade, Mariana M. & de M. Grilli, Natalia & Turra, Alexander, 2024. "Global plastic pollution, sustainable development, and plastic justice," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    12. Rafael Estevez & Laura Aguado-Deblas & Francisco J. López-Tenllado & Felipa M. Bautista & Antonio A. Romero & Diego Luna, 2024. "Study on the Performance and Emissions of Triple Blends of Diesel/Waste Plastic Oil/Vegetable Oil in a Diesel Engine: Advancing Eco-Friendly Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-17, March.
    13. Cordier, Mateo & Uehara, Takuro & Baztan, Juan & Jorgensen, Bethany & Yan, Huijie, 2021. "Plastic pollution and economic growth: The influence of corruption and lack of education," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    14. Amna Farrukh & Aymen Sajjad, 2024. "Investigating sustainability tensions and resolution strategies in the plastic food packaging industry—A paradox theory approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2868-2889, May.
    15. Evangelos Danopoulos & Maureen Twiddy & Jeanette M Rotchell, 2020. "Microplastic contamination of drinking water: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, July.
    16. Jiang, Yuchen & Li, Xianglin & Li, Chao & Zhang, Lijun & Zhang, Shu & Li, Bin & Wang, Shuang & Hu, Xun, 2022. "Pyrolysis of typical plastics and coupled with steam reforming of their derived volatiles for simultaneous production of hydrogen-rich gases and heavy organics," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 476-491.
    17. R. R. M. K. P. Ranatunga & Dilhara Wijetunge & W. V. P. H. Ranaweera & Chin-Chang Hung & Shang-Yin Vanson Liu & Qamar Schuyler & T. J. Lawson & Britta Denise Hardesty, 2023. "Ranking Sri Lanka among the World’s Top Mismanaged Waste Polluters: Does Model Data Change the Story?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, February.
    18. Berkowicz-Płatek, Gabriela & Żukowski, Witold & Wrona, Jan & Wencel, Kinga, 2024. "Thermal decomposition of polyolefins under different oxygen content. Composition of products and thermal effects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    19. Nakayama, Tadanobu & Osako, Masahiro, 2023. "Development of a process-based eco-hydrology model for evaluating the spatio-temporal dynamics of macro- and micro-plastics for the whole of Japan," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 476(C).
    20. Khumbelo Mabadahanye & Mwazvita T. B. Dalu & Linton F. Munyai & Farai Dondofema & Tatenda Dalu, 2025. "Perceptions and Knowledge of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Workers Regarding Plastic Pollution and Removal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-13, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5283-:d:802864. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.