Plastic pollution is a major concern worldwide, in the air, soil and water. At least 269,000 tons of plastic are floating in our oceans, alone! What started as a marine contamination issue has become a human health issue, as well. Plastic debris can impact us, whether we consume contaminated food, drink water, or breathe air.
What are microplastics?
- The term microplastics was coined in 2004 by Richard Thompson, a science and engineering professor at England’s Plymouth University. It refers to bits of plastic smaller than 1-5 mm in diameter. These microplastics can be from larger pieces of plastic degrading or microfibers.
- A study by Orb Media, the largest of its kind, analysed 250 bottles from 9 different countries around the world. An average of 10 plastic particles per liter, each larger than the width of a human hair, were found in bottled water. Approximately 93% of bottled water around the world is contaminated by microplastics.
- A previous study by Orb Media found that 94% of tap water in the USA and 72% in Europe contained microplastics.
- No one knows how this problem may affect humans and animals in the long term.
Sources of microplastic pollution:
- Mishandled plastic waste: Plastic that is not recyclable or not recycled can break down into smaller pieces, resulting in microplastic pollution. This includes flower pots, forks, bags, containers, toothbrushes, etc.
- Secondary microplastics: Smaller bits of plastic from large plastic products, as they break down.
- Microbeads: These plastics are used as scrubbing agents in personal care products, like facial scrubs, toothpaste, and shampoo.
- Fibers from synthetic clothing materials in washing wastewater: Washing synthetic fibers like polyester, acrylic, and fleece, releases microscopic fibers which eventually enter sewers.
- Airborne fibers from synthetic clothing materials due to abrasion
- Tire dust from roads flushed into streams and rivers: Tires emit dust from their plastic raw materials which ultimately gets washed down sewers.
- Paint dust from road markings, house paint and ship paint: Latex and acrylic paints are actually liquid plastics that can end up in drinking water sources.
Microplastics are dangerous for you and our environment:
- It’s widely accepted that plastic debris is a marine issue, but researchers agree that it should also be recognized as a serious human health issue. Ecotoxicologist, Heather Leslie of VU University of Amsterdam, refers to a large body of studies that provide evidence of how microplastics affect humans: “They can pass through the placenta and the blood-brain barrier and can be taken up in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs, potential sites where harm can occur.”
- You can be exposed to microplastics by consuming contaminated seafood, tap water, and breathing air with airborne microfibers.
- According to a recent Orb study overseen by Dr. Sharon Mason, plastic fibers were found in over 90% of drinking water sampled in the US, in over 83% of samples worldwide, and in three top-branded bottled waters in the US. This means that plastic fibers that flow into lakes and rivers which are sources for our drinking water aren’t being completely removed during the water treatment process.
Studies have shown the following health effects:
- Oxidative stress
- Cell damage
- Inflammation
- Hormonal disruption
What can you do to address the problem?
- Reduce plastic consumption: The average American throws away 185 pounds of plastic each year!
- Say no to plastic bags: Take a reusable shopping bag with you when you go shopping.
- Refuse straws: Plastic straws contribute to plastic waste and are completely unnecessary. Avoid them or keep your own personal reusable metal straw in your bag.
- Choose natural fibers rather than synthetic fibers: With every wash, synthetic fibers shed plastic fibers. These fibers enter drinking water by way of sewers and water treatment plants that aren’t fully capable of removing microplastics.
- Wash fleece clothing less frequently.
- Use a filter on your washing machine to trap microfibers that come off in the wash.
- Car-pool or use public transport to reduce the amount of tire dust produced on roads.
- Use an eco-friendly toothbrush made from natural materials such as bamboo rather than a plastic version which will take years to break down once discarded.
- Rinse paint brushes in a can or jar rather than the sink, then discard that together with the paint responsibly at the landfill. Better still, use a natural paint, such as milk paint, which looks great and is environmentally friendly.
- Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottled water. Some water bottles are even fitted with a filter to help remove microplastic fibers present in tap water.
- Filter your drinking water: Some water filters are designed to remove microplastics. These water filters are tested and verified to remove microplastics from drinking water.
Can you remove microplastics from tap water at home?
- The smallest microplastics measured by Orb in tap water were about 2.5 micrometres, although most are considerably bigger. It’s important to understand the size, as this will influence the type of filtering required.
- For most circumstances, a carbon block filter is an affordable and environmentally friendly way to keep your family safe from microplastics.
Filters that help to remove microplastics from tap water at home:
- Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) faucet filters such as TAPP 1: Filters contaminants down to about 5 microns (micrometers), so most microplastics will be removed.
- Carbon Block Filtration: Usually the smallest plastic particles are about 2.5 microns, but most are bigger. A carbon block filter designed for lead reduction (approximately 0.5 microns) will do a good job. Undersink Carbon Block Filtration Systems are extremely common.
- Reverse Osmosis filters and ion exchange: This technology separates water from contaminants and filters down to below 0.0001 microns, so it is a very good method. Reverse osmosis can be used as a whole-house system or undersink option. It will remove almost all microplastics, but is more expensive and requires maintenance.
- Electro-Adhesion: The US Water Pulsar Disrupter Filter uses Electro-Adhesion to filter out particles to sub-micron levels. It can remove plastics, bacteria, cysts, virus, arsenic, chromium 6, lead and other heavy metals.
These technologies can be used as “stand-alone technologies” or in tandem with others. In many cases, a point-of-use system (just for drinking water) or whole house solution may consist of more than one technology. Do you want to treat just drinking water or all water in your home? Technology exists to remove microplastics from water, but current technology cannot predict the long-term effects of exposure to them in our environment.
References:
- https://tappwater.co/en/how-to-filter-and-remove-microplastics/
- Graham, Karen. Removing Microplastics From Tap Water Starts at Treatment Plants. Technology. http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/technology/removing-microplastics-from-tap-water-starts-at-treatment-plants/article/501870#ixzz5ACZKadfG, 09/07/17.
- Trimmer, Carol. Pure living space.com. Non-Toxic Home. https://purelivingspace.com/blogs/home-air…/water-filters-that-remove-microplastics, 11/15/17.
- Timmons, Mark. Removing Microplastics From Your Tap Water. 12/28/17.
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