A test has shown that most bottled water contain tiny plastic particles.
In a largest research of its kind,250 different brand of bottled water from nine different countries were examined.
The research led by journalism organisation ORB media,at the university of New York Fretonia,discovered an average of 10 plastic particles per litre,each larger than width of a human air.
Company whose brand was tested told BBC that their bottling plant was operated to highest standards.
According to BBC,Sherri Mason a professor of chemistry at the university conducted analysis and told BBC:"We found [plastic] particle in bottle after bottled and brand after brand.
"It's not about pointing fingers at a particular brand; it's really shows that this is everywhere,that plastic has become such a pervasive material in our society,and it's pervading water-all of this products that we consume at a very basic level".
Currently,there is no evidence of ingesting very small pieces of plastics [microplastic] is harmful to the body.But understanding it potential implications is an active area of science.
It's not catastrophic the numbers we discovered,but it is concerning; professor Mason added.
This comes in the wake of advice by experts that people in developing countries where tap water may be polluted should continue to drink water from plastic bottles.
Last year ,prof Mason found plastic particles in samples of tap water,other researchers have spotted some in sea food,beer,sea salt and even the air.
The make-up of these particles are not confirmed but Prof Mason says they can "rationally expected to be plastics".
It has not being confirmed if the number of this particles are enough to to cause damage to any of the body systems,
The particles found in the water is made up of 54 percent of polypropylene,16 percent of nylon,11 percent of polystyrene,10 percent of polythylene, 6 percent of polyester and 3 percent of other elements which includes Azlon,polyacrylate and copolymers.
Another researchers Andrew mayes and Micheal walker of university of East Anglia and the consultant to the office of UK government chemist respectively.
Both of them emphasised that particles below 100 microns had not been identified as plastics but since the alternative would not be expected in a bottled water,they could be described as "probably plastics".
The main question is where is the plastic particles from?
Given the amount of polypropylene, used in bottling caps,it can be theorised that the act of opening the bottle may shed some particles inside.
When the various companies like Nestle,Gerosteiner,Danone, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were contacted,they all responded in defence of their production process and most of them faulted the process of the research which they claim might be subjected to errors.
Their representatives were however invited to compare the methods.
Although some of the producers admitted there are microplastics everywhere so there is possibility of microplastics entering their product from ambient air or packaging material during the process of bottling.
The effect of the particles on consumers is still unknown,and no adverse effects has been discovered but it's still subject to further testing.
In a largest research of its kind,250 different brand of bottled water from nine different countries were examined.
The research led by journalism organisation ORB media,at the university of New York Fretonia,discovered an average of 10 plastic particles per litre,each larger than width of a human air.
Company whose brand was tested told BBC that their bottling plant was operated to highest standards.
According to BBC,Sherri Mason a professor of chemistry at the university conducted analysis and told BBC:"We found [plastic] particle in bottle after bottled and brand after brand.
"It's not about pointing fingers at a particular brand; it's really shows that this is everywhere,that plastic has become such a pervasive material in our society,and it's pervading water-all of this products that we consume at a very basic level".
Currently,there is no evidence of ingesting very small pieces of plastics [microplastic] is harmful to the body.But understanding it potential implications is an active area of science.
It's not catastrophic the numbers we discovered,but it is concerning; professor Mason added.
This comes in the wake of advice by experts that people in developing countries where tap water may be polluted should continue to drink water from plastic bottles.
Last year ,prof Mason found plastic particles in samples of tap water,other researchers have spotted some in sea food,beer,sea salt and even the air.
The make-up of these particles are not confirmed but Prof Mason says they can "rationally expected to be plastics".
It has not being confirmed if the number of this particles are enough to to cause damage to any of the body systems,
The particles found in the water is made up of 54 percent of polypropylene,16 percent of nylon,11 percent of polystyrene,10 percent of polythylene, 6 percent of polyester and 3 percent of other elements which includes Azlon,polyacrylate and copolymers.
Another researchers Andrew mayes and Micheal walker of university of East Anglia and the consultant to the office of UK government chemist respectively.
Both of them emphasised that particles below 100 microns had not been identified as plastics but since the alternative would not be expected in a bottled water,they could be described as "probably plastics".
The main question is where is the plastic particles from?
Given the amount of polypropylene, used in bottling caps,it can be theorised that the act of opening the bottle may shed some particles inside.
When the various companies like Nestle,Gerosteiner,Danone, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were contacted,they all responded in defence of their production process and most of them faulted the process of the research which they claim might be subjected to errors.
Their representatives were however invited to compare the methods.
Although some of the producers admitted there are microplastics everywhere so there is possibility of microplastics entering their product from ambient air or packaging material during the process of bottling.
The effect of the particles on consumers is still unknown,and no adverse effects has been discovered but it's still subject to further testing.
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