Mon, Oct 5, 2026
[Archive]
.png)
Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.
Abstract: (34 Views)
Background: The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in global drinking water supplies has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental health challenges of the 21st century.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published between January 2015 and December 2024. Forty-seven peer-reviewed studies reporting MP concentrations in tap water, bottled water, groundwater, and surface water used for human consumption were included. Risk assessment was conducted in accordance with U.S. EPA and WHO guidelines.
Results: Pooled MP concentrations ranged from 0.7 to 7,000 particles/L across water types, with bottled water exhibiting significantly higher levels (mean = 325 particles/L) than tap water (mean = 4.2 particles/L). Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were the most prevalent types of polymers. Fibers dominated in tap water (69%), while fragments predominated in bottled water (58%). Hazard quotient values exceeded 1.0 in 34% of studies, indicating non-carcinogenic risk. Cumulative cancer risk estimates for populations consuming predominantly bottled water surpassed the acceptable threshold of1× 10 - 4
Conclusion: Microplastic contamination in drinking water constitutes a measurable and growing public health risk. Immediate regulatory action, standardized monitoring protocols, and investment in advanced water treatment technologies are urgently required.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published between January 2015 and December 2024. Forty-seven peer-reviewed studies reporting MP concentrations in tap water, bottled water, groundwater, and surface water used for human consumption were included. Risk assessment was conducted in accordance with U.S. EPA and WHO guidelines.
Results: Pooled MP concentrations ranged from 0.7 to 7,000 particles/L across water types, with bottled water exhibiting significantly higher levels (mean = 325 particles/L) than tap water (mean = 4.2 particles/L). Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were the most prevalent types of polymers. Fibers dominated in tap water (69%), while fragments predominated in bottled water (58%). Hazard quotient values exceeded 1.0 in 34% of studies, indicating non-carcinogenic risk. Cumulative cancer risk estimates for populations consuming predominantly bottled water surpassed the acceptable threshold of
Conclusion: Microplastic contamination in drinking water constitutes a measurable and growing public health risk. Immediate regulatory action, standardized monitoring protocols, and investment in advanced water treatment technologies are urgently required.
Type of Study: Review Article |
Subject:
Environmental Health, Sciences, and Engineering
Received: 2026/07/25 | Accepted: 2026/09/19
Received: 2026/07/25 | Accepted: 2026/09/19
References
1. Assadi, A., Soudavari, A., & Mohammadian Fazli, M. (2016). Comparison of electrocoagulation and chemical coagulation processes in removing reactive red 196 from aqueous solution. Journal of Human Environment and Health Promotion, 1(3), 172-182. [Crossref]
2. Baghaie, A. H., & Keshavarzi, M. (2025). Strategies to enhance bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in contaminated environments: A review. Journal of Human Environment and Health Promotion, 11(3), 138-150. [Crossref]
3. Boudreault, R., Desrosiers, M., & Galvez, R. (2022). Microplastic release from PVC drinking water distribution pipes under operational conditions. Water Research, 213, 118137.
4. Campanale, C., Massarelli, C., Savino, I., Locaputo, V., & Uricchio, V. F. (2020). A detailed review study on potential effects of microplastics and additives of concern on human health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1212. [Crossref]
5. Deng, Y., Zhang, Y., Lemos, B., & Ren, H. (2017). Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure. Scientific Reports, 7, 46687. [Crossref]
6. Gigault, J., Ter Halle, A., Baudrimont, M., Pascal, P. Y., Gauffre, F., Phi, T. L., . . . & Reynaud, S. (2018). Current opinion: What is a nanoplastic? Environmental Pollution, 235, 1030-1034. [Crossref]
7. Jin, Y., Lu, L., Tu, W., Luo, T., & Fu, Z. (2019). Impacts of polystyrene microplastic on the gut barrier, microbiota and metabolism of mice. Science of the Total Environment, 649, 308-317. [Crossref]
8. Kosuth, M., Mason, S. A., & Wattenberg, E. V. (2018). Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt. Plose One, 13(4), e0194970. [Crossref]
9. Liu, K., Wu, T., Wang, X., Song, Z., Zong, C., Wei, N., & Li, D. (2019). Consistent transport of terrestrial microplastics to the ocean through atmosphere. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(18), 10612-10619. [Crossref]
10. Marfella, R., Prattichizzo, F., Sardu, C., Fulgenzi, G., Graciotti, L., Spadoni, T., . . . & Paolisso, G. (2024). Microplastics and nanoplastics in atheromas and cardiovascular events. The New England Journal of Medicine, 390(10), 900-910. [Crossref]
11. Mason, S. A., Welch, V. G., & Neratko, J. (2018). Synthetic polymer contamination in bottled water. Frontiers in Chemistry, 6, 00407. [Crossref]
12. OECD. (2022). Global plastics outlook: Policy scenarios to 2060. OECD Publishing. [Crossref]
13. Oßmann, B. E., Sarau, G., Holtmannspötter, H., Pischetsrieder, M., Christiansen, S. H., & Dicke, W. (2018). Small-sized microplastics and pigmented particles in bottled mineral water. Water Research, 141, 307-316. [Crossref]
14. Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., . . . & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. [Crossref]
15. Pivokonský, M., Cermakova, L., Novotna, K., Peer, P., Cajthaml, T., & Janda, V. (2018). Occurrence of microplastics in raw and treated drinking water. Science of the Total Environment, 643, 1644-1651. [Crossref]
16. Ragusa, A., Svelato, A., Santacroce, C., Catalano, P., Notarstefano, V., Carnevali, O., . . . & Giorgini, E. (2021). Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International, 146, 106274. [Crossref]
17. Schymanski, D., Goldbeck, C., Humpf, H. U., & Fürst, P. (2018). Analysis of microplastics in water by micro-Raman spectroscopy: Release of plastic particles from different packaging into mineral water. Water Research, 129, 154-162. [Crossref]
18. Thompson, R. C., Swan, S. H., Moore, C. J., & Vom Saal, F. S. (2009). Our plastic age. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 1973-1976. [Crossref]
19. Tong, H., Jiang, Q., Hu, X., & Zhong, X. (2020). Occurrence and identification of microplastics in tap water from China. Chemosphere, 252, 126493. [Crossref]
20. United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2023). Human health risk assessment: Guidelines for microplastics. U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development.
21. Winkler, A., Santo, N., Ortenzi, M. A., Bolzoni, E., Bacchetta, R., & Tremolada, P. (2019). Does mechanical stress cause microplastic release from plastic water bottles? Water Research, 166, 115082. [Crossref]
22. World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). Microplastics in drinking-water. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516198
23. Wright, S. L., & Kelly, F. J. (2017). Plastic and human health: A micro issue? Environmental Science & Technology, 51(12), 6634-6647. [Crossref]
24. Xu, P., Ge, W., Chai, C., Zhang, Y., Jiang, T., & Xia, B. (2019). Sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by microplastics. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 145, 260-269. [Crossref]
25. Ziajahromi, Sh., Neale, P. A., Rintoul, L., & Leusch, F. D. L. (2017). Wastewater treatment plants as a pathway for microplastics: Development of a new approach to sample wastewater-based microplastics. Water Research, 112, 93-99. [Crossref]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
© 2024 The Author(s)
