Tap water contains different varieties of impurities depending on the region. It’s not safe to drink until you’ve tested and treated it using a water filtration system. One of the things contaminants in tap water that can be harmful to human beings and other living beings is microplastics. Here is what to know.
Microplastics In Water
Microplastics are exactly what they sound like. They are tiny particles of plastic found in water. They range in size from one micrometer to one nanometer. The particles that fall in the category of the size of a nanometer are known as nanoplastics.
Plastics are generally not soluble in water, but if they are in water for too long, about a couple of years, then they will start to disintegrate into the water and this is what gives rise to microplastics in water.
You might have heard the advice to never dispose of plastics in the sea. Well, that’s because the plastics can settle at the bottom of the sea floor and contaminate the seawater. This is not only bad for marine life, but it will also pollute the water and it’s generally not good for the environment either.
Plastic is a polymer that cannot decompose or degrade over time. It is one of the few synthetic materials that are able to hold their structure for years. However, when they stay submerged in water, they can cause many issues because polymers are essentially long chains of hydrocarbons that aren’t technically good for living things.
Plastics aren’t meant to be consumed by humans as well so if they are present in the water, things can take a turn for the worst case. This is why it’s recommended that you test your water for microplastics because there might be a solid chance that there might be a degree of plastics in the water.
They’re usually invisible to the naked eye because the particles are smaller than a sesame seed, so you can’t see them, which makes everything all the more confusing and dangerous. So, it’s possible that your tap that looks and tastes normal may have microplastics.
Health Problems Caused By Drinking Water That Has Microplastics
There are a lot of hazards associated with microplastics. Not only can you involuntarily harm wildlife and marine life, but consuming water with microplastics can have a domino effect on your health. Here are some of the very treacherous effects of microplastics if you consume them.
Stomach Aches
Stomach aches and poisoning become the norm. Your stomach will hurt a lot and microplastics can increase the possibility of you developing ulcers in the stomach, which is a different kind of discomfort.
Blood Diseases
Your blood can get contaminated and it can lead to a lot of blood diseases and infections.
Heart Diseases
Heart issues and cardiac arrest can be the norm as well. Consuming water with microplastics can increase the chances of heart deterioration, which is very alarming.
Cancers
Cancers and tumors are very common. People who consume microplastics are at a higher risk of developing untreatable cancers than people who don’t consume microplastics.
Can Cause A Various Of Diseases
Plastics cannot be dissolved or broken down by the digestive secretions, so it will sit as a mass in your stomach and that is scary to think because it can cause just about any disorder under the sun.
How To Know If Your Tap Water Has Microplastics?
Since microplastics are almost invisible to the eye, how can you tell if there is any trace of plastic in the water to begin with? Well, the answer is simple. There are lots of tests that are available to the public and they can employ those tests on drinking water to ensure that their water is free of all kinds of hazardous plastic polymers.
Lab Tests
These tests are usually done in certified laboratories, so you need to get in touch with one. They will usually provide a certification that affirms that there is no trace of microplastics in the water and that certification is legit. And if there is microplastics in the water, the report will show so you can take actions accordingly.
Therefore, if you want to test your water for microplastics, you need consult a laboratory for an in-depth analysis of the water sample.
Usually, you’ll need to get a water sample from your faucet, then you will contain it in a test tube. Afterward, you will send it out to the laboratory, where different methods like polarization, spectroscopy, and other tests are carried out to identify the presence of plastics in the water. This is pretty much the gist of the test and if you want to go more in-depth, then you can even request for nanoplastics tests as well and those will tell you if your water has more of the smaller plastic particles in your water.
Water Testing Kits
There are also some testing kits available, but it is recommended that you prefer a certified lab because those results are legit and you really can’t rely on at-home tests because they can be gimmicky at times.
So, if you want to test the water for plastics, now you know the best route to go about. Contact your nearest water laboratory and you’ll know the results in no time.
How Do You Remove Microplastics From Drinking Water?
If your water does have microplastics in it, then you need to know how to remove them. Here are some of the ways by which you can get rid of microplastics from your drinking water.
By Boiling
Boiling is a bit controversial because it is sometimes suggested that it doesn’t remove any microplastics, but on the other hand, some studies support otherwise. A study showed that boiling tap water can remove 80% of microplastics.
Regardless, boiling water to 100 degrees Celsius is amazing for a lot of reasons and it is found that at this temperature, the plastics in the water start to cluster and form a precipitate so it can be easily removed from the water. Boiling water also gets rid of toxins and other germs.
By Using Standard Water Filters
Water filters, especially carbon filters and even physical filters are known to remove microplastics from water. So, if you’re not a fan of boiling water, then you can get a water filter that will remove every trace of plastic from the water.
Just make sure to change the filter out regularly and you’ll be good to go. It’s important to mention that not all water filters remove microplastics, so you’ll need to get one that truly gets the job done.
By Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a foolproof way of removing most kinds of contaminants in the water including microplastics.
It is done with the use of a semi-permeable membrane. It lets the water pass while it traps every single impurity behind and doesn’t let it through. In the end, you will get 98% pure water which is free of microplastics and safe for drinking.
At-home reverse osmosis plants are available and you can easily have them installed in your house and say goodbye to impure and plastic-infested water for good because RO is the solution to most of the tap water contamination problems.
Conclusion
Tap water and microplastics are two things that don’t go together at all. So, it’s really important to know if your water has it and if it does, how to remove it. As mentioned earlier, installing a whole house water filtration Warren system like a reverse osmosis system is an effective way to remove microplastics from your drinking water.