A study from January 2024 found that plastic bottles slough off over 100,000 micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) per liter of water. Even avoiding plastic bottles as a water source, water straight from the tap or from a filtration system is still contaminated with microplastics. 

Recent studies showed that the human body contains about a credit card amount of microplastics, on average. While the health effects of microplastics are still being determined, possible effects seem to be cancer, cardiovascular disease, gut health issues, cell damage and fertility issues, according to recent studies. Research is advancing somewhat rapidly, but it has a long way to go before any conclusive information or solutions can be found. 

Microplastics are defined as being 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters in length, and nanoplastics are defined as being less than 1 micrometer. 90% of the plastics found in water were considered nanoplastics, thanks to a new way of observing, categorizing and measuring plastic particles in a Columbia University study.

Humans ingest the microplastic through the air, food and water they consume, and many of the sources of plastics are far removed from individual control; For example, vegetables often grow in soil contaminated with plastics from factories, contaminated water or other sources of pollution. Yet there are some common habits that add unnecessary plastic to one’s diet, such as plastic water bottles, plastic cutting boards and other household items made from plastic. 

There are alternatives that can reduce, though not eliminate, the effects of MNPs. Water is a major source of plastic for human consumption, and addressing the plastic pollution in water could significantly reduce the negative health effects on both humans and the planet. 

“Forever chemicals” in water

Another source of dangerous plastic pollution in drinking water is from per- and poly-fluorides (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals” because they never degrade. PFAS entered the environment through chemical and product manufacturing, and are now mostly banned in the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a lifetime drinking water advisory in 2022 for four PFAS: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOs), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid and its potassium salt (PFBS) and hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt (“GenX” chemicals). 

“People on the front-lines of PFAS contamination have suffered for far too long. That’s why EPA is taking aggressive action as part of a whole-of-government approach to prevent these chemicals from entering the environment and to help protect concerned families from this pervasive challenge,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan when the advisories were released, referencing what became the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation in April 2024.

EPA announced $1 billion in bipartisan infrastructure funding to test drinking water for PFAS and projects to address contaminated water sources, especially in small or disadvantaged communities with fewer resources and limited access to clean water. While the EPA addresses and researches remedies for the PFAS-contaminated water, what can individuals do to better regulate their exposure to plastics in water?

Filtered water and plastic alternatives

Even when avoiding plastic water bottles, other drinking water options still contain unknown amounts of plastic, including water filtration systems and tap water, but there are some options that are better than others.

Popular options for water filter attachments or pitchers are often made of plastic or are incapable of filtering out MNPs, even if they can filter out other chemicals and contaminants. Distillation, or boiling water, can eliminate nearly 90% of microplastics. Using a glass or metal water pitcher or filtration system is also healthier than using plastic ones. 

According to the National Institute of Health, “Microplastic removals were highest for the device with the smallest pore size membrane filters, while the device that only incorporated granular activated carbon and ion exchange resin exhibited poor performance, including effluent microplastic concentrations exceeding those in the influent under certain conditions. Devices that incorporate physical treatment barriers including membrane filtration are suitable for microplastic removal from drinking water.” 

When tested, some filter systems removed microplastics to varying success rates, further evidence that research remains ongoing on this topic. Most research reflects that tap water and a filtration system, such as distillation, is most effective at reducing plastics in drinking water, along with reducing plastic utensils and dishes when storing or cooking with water. 

Brooklyn’s water

Brooklyn gets its drinking water from the New York City Watershed Program, which is the largest unfiltered water system in the U.S. It gathers water from rain and snowfall in 19 reservoirs and three lakes, and New Yorkers frequently regard their water as the best, even crediting the quality of bagels and pizza dough to the city’s water. 

Brooklyn’s water comes from the Catskills and Delaware watersheds, although at one point in history Brooklyn had high-quality drinking water. According to the city, “water was hauled from Brooklyn in the early 1700s. Brooklyn had an excellent supply of fresh groundwater, but it was not enough to meet New York City’s needs.”

Now, Brooklyn is home to some of the most polluted bodies of water in the country, such as the Gowanus Canal or Newtown Creek. The upper Hudson River was contaminated with over 1.3 million pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which resulted in several advisories regarding fishing and agriculture in the upper-Hudson area. $2.8 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill was used to clean up parts of the Hudson, specifically near Albany. Last year, city lawmakers proposed three bills that would require the Department of Environmental Protection to monitor city water for microplastics.