80% of tap water we drink is contaminated with plastic

You have already been informed of the presence of endocrine disruptors, pesticides and lots of other crap in tap water (additional information). Well it doesn't seem to be getting better, you do what you want but for me too much is too much... Also, even if it's not a panacea, I am going to buy mineral water packs for my oldest son Thomas who only drinks water (alas they are packaged with plastic bottles... plastic, but it couldn't be worse than what comes out of my tap).

L'Amourfou.

Tests show that all over the world, billion people drink contaminated water directly from their taps.

We already knew that our oceans, as much as our daily salt, had taken on the taste of plastic. It is now the turn of the faucets to spread the contamination into our throats.

A study conducted by theOrb Media and reported by Guardian has just revealed the presence of plastic microfibers in tap water around the world. Taking dozens of tap water samples from more than a dozen different nations, analyzes show that 83% of the samples were contaminated with plastic particles. Every day, billions of us drink water that contains plastic.

Worried, the authors of the study call for urgent research into the potential risks of this widespread contamination.

Less polluted tap water in Europe

At the top of the most polluted taps, we find the United States, with 94% of plastic fibers found in the water taken from the buildings of the United States Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and even the Trump Tower. Just behind come Lebanon and India with almost as high plastic rates.

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If the case of Europe is less critical, it is still 72% of plasticized particles which have been found in the taps of Europeans, in particular in France, the United Kingdom and Germany. According to the figures of the study, the average of fibers detected in each 500 ml sample varies from 4,8 in the United States to 1,9 in Europe.

Plastic everywhere, all the time

Last June, a similar study carried out in Ireland also had revealed plastic contamination in tap and well water samples. "We don't yet know what the health impact is and that's why we have to follow the precautionary principle by transmitting information immediately, so that we can find out the real risks", said Dr. Anne-Marie Mahon of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, author of the research.

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For the researchers, two risk factors are to be taken particularly seriously. First, the potential presence of chemicals or pathogens in the plastic particles. Then the bacteria that these can attract in the wastewater. " The particles can enter a cell, which means they can also enter the organs”, added Dr. Mahon, referring to a very "disturbing". Not to mention that these microparticles are known to contain and absorb certain chemicals and toxic products.

On the extent of global plastic contamination, more and more studies are being carried out, particularly in France and Germany, where microfibers have been sampled in beer, honey or sugar, but also in the atmosphere, outside and inside the habitats.

Unfiltered plastic

For the researchers, no water treatment system can so far guarantee the total filtration of plastic particles. « In terms of fibres, the diameter is ten microns and it would be very rare to find this level of filtration in our drinking water systems”, specifies Anne Marie Mahon at Guardian. If the systems and other filter jugs do not guarantee 100% pure water, neither do the bottles. Indeed, samples of bottled water have been taken in the United States, also revealing the presence of plastic microparticles.

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“Our ecosystems are invaded by plastic”, said Professor Roland Geyer, of the University of California and Santa Barbara. "I am very concerned about the adverse consequences that are likely to occur and that we will realize once it is too late."

source: Parismatch.be

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