Shocking Study Shows Average Bottle Of Water Contains Quarter Million Cancer-causing Nanoplastic Pieces!
- MSF.Nadhwa
- Category: Body Health
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Most of us reach for a plastic water bottle when we're on the go, drawn by their convenience and portability. However, recent studies have uncovered a startling health risk that comes with these seemingly harmless containers and it is life-threatening!
Little do we know, that as we take a sip to quench our thirst, we may also be ingesting hundreds of thousands of harmful microscopic plastic particles. The discovery that plastic water bottles contain toxic nanoplastics is an alarming wake-up call for everyone who has ever opted for bottled water over tap, under the impression that it was the healthier choice. This can accumulate in your vital organs with unknown health implications.
What Are Nanoplastics?
The tiny adversaries, known as nanoplastics, are linked to severe health issues, including cancer, fertility problems, and birth defects. Advanced laser scanning techniques have revealed that a single liter of bottled water can contain an average of 240,000 plastic particles, a stark contrast to the mere 5.5 particles found in tap water. Researchers from the University of Columbia studied three popular bottled water brands in the United States, uncovering this disturbing data and paving the way for a deeper understanding of the health implications these microscopic pollutants might have on our bodies.
How Can Invisible Nanoplastics Invade Our Bodies?
What makes nanoplastics particularly dangerous is their minuscule size, which allows them to infiltrate blood cells and even the brain. These particles often carry phthalates, chemicals that increase plastic's durability but are notorious for their negative impacts on health, including hormone disruption and a host of developmental problems. Alarmingly, exposure to these chemicals is linked to an estimated 100,000 premature deaths in the US alone each year, as they can accumulate in our vital organs and contribute to various health disorders.
Are Nanoplastics Present In the Water We Drink?
Until recent advancements, nanoplastics were too elusive for conventional detection methods, which were only capable of identifying microplastics no smaller than 1 micrometer. The groundbreaking use of Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy now allows researchers to detect nanoplastic particles less than 1 micrometer in size, revealing that these tiny pollutants make up a staggering 90 percent of the molecules in bottled water. This new insight is crucial as the world strides toward assessing and understanding the potential health risks that these minute contaminants pose.
What You Need To Know About Nanoplastic Pollution
The proliferation of plastics is an environmental concern of increasing magnitude, with annual production figures reaching 400 million metric tons. Alarmingly, over 30 million tons of plastic waste end up in our water or land each year. Apart from that, there are many products made with plastics - such as synthetic clothes - shed particles while being used. This rampant pollution is not just an ecological disaster; it's a direct threat to human health, as we continue to discover the prevalence of nanoplastics in everyday products, such as bottled water.
Study co-author Professor Beizhan Yan, an environmental chemist at Columbia, found that the prevalence of PET, polyamide, polystyrene, PVC, and polymethyl methacrylate in the water samples - all common in industrial processes.
According to the findings, what disturbed the scientists and researchers more was that these named plastics only accounted for around 10 percent of all the nanoparticles found in the samples and they are yet to find what the rest are.
Biophysicist and study co-author Wei Min emphasized the significance of this research and says that this study on Nanoplastic matters because small particals can easily invade our bodies. Next, the team plans to investigate tap water, which has previously been shown to contain microplastics, although in far smaller quantities than bottled water.
In the face of this concerning evidence, we must reassess our reliance on plastic water bottles and consider the long-term health implications they carry. Whether it's choosing tap water over bottled, investing in a reusable water bottle, or supporting businesses that prioritize sustainable plastic free packaging, each small change can have a significant impact. By staying informed and making mindful decisions, especially the youth, we have the power to protect not just our health, but the health of our planet for future generations.