A recent disturbing study revealed that a single one-liter water bottle contains an alarming number of “nano-plastic” particles, they’re so small — measured on a scale down to a billionth of a meter — that they can enter human cells, a possibility that has alarmed scientists.
These minuscule compounds, even smaller than microplastics, have the ability to enter the bloodstream and pass through various barriers to reach cells, potentially leading to cell dysfunction.
The recent findings add to the growing body of research that demonstrates the widespread presence of microplastics on Earth, including in remote locations like the Marianas Trench and Mount Everest, as well as in clouds and within human organs.
The bottled water industry is dismissing concerns about nanoplastics in our bodies, arguing that the research from Columbia University is merely spreading fear. They are urging consumers to ignore the study’s findings.
“Media reports about these particles in drinking water do nothing more than unnecessarily scare consumers. There currently is both a lack of standardized methods and no scientific consensus on the potential health impacts of nano- and microplastic particles,” the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) wrote in a statement.
The IBWA mentioned that the World Health Organization and the FDA have not found any negative health effects or issued regulations on these substances in food and drinks due to limited scientific research.
It is not unexpected that the association representing bottled water manufacturers is attempting to undermine the recent discoveries. However, it is concerning that instead of addressing these concerns, it is trying to convince consumers to ignore them.
Although there is insufficient evidence to confirm that human health is at risk, this does not imply that there is no potential danger to human health.
Reference- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, The Hill, International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) PR, Futurism