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Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

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Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

#371
post #131
post #4

It's good to see the honest qualifications in the article: >Mason's team was able to identify specific plastics over 100 microns (0.10 mm) in size but not smaller particles. According to experts contacted by CBC News, there is a chance the Nile Red dye is adhering to another unknown substance other than plastic. >Mason leaves open that possibility but leans strongly to the smaller particles being plastic. >The develo…

For practical purpose does it matter? It detects non-water particles(pollution) in twice higher ratio than in tap water and plastic bottled water is sold as way purer than tap water with 1000 time higher price. Basically it's scam.

Actually, detecting hot-water particles does not automatically mean greater polution. Admittedly, I agree with the research authors and you that bottled water is less healthy and a scam, but it is still possible that the particles are non-harmful or could even be beneficial additives.

I very much doubt that's the case, I'm just saying we can't make such direct assumptions when analyzing scientific research.

Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

#372
post #370
post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And what exactly can one do if the results are terrible?

Depending on specific circumstance: buy filters, find alternate sources, move.

> find alternate sources

To the water coming out of your tap?

Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

#373
post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And plenty of aluminum cans of water as well, not to mention aluminum recycling is perhaps the most implemented recycling effort of any materials.

I'm not really sure how much glass or aluminum containers would matter to the fundamental point? The plant that purifies the water and puts it into the glass and aluminum containers almost certainly uses plastic or rubber tubing in its machinery. So you'd likely get some plastic particles transferred there as well. In the end, I'd be willing to bet that tap water has fewer micro plastics than water bottled in glass o…

In a similar vein, does anyone know of any conclusive studies on the safety of PEX plumbing wrt releasing microplastics into our drinking water. My home is primarily PEX. It would be nice to know if I'm slowly poisoning my family.

Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

#374
post #372
post #370

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depending on specific circumstance: buy filters, find alternate sources, move.

> find alternate sources To the water coming out of your tap?

Sure. Bottled water for example. ;-)

Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

#375
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't you taste that?

Yes, and it would improve the taste. If you like San Pellegrino, you can get a similar taste at much lower cost by adding "Burton Salts" (a blend of salts meant to imitate the water of Burton on Trent, which is famously well suited for making pale ales, widely available from brewing suppliers) to soft water. And people have made spreadsheets to help with cloning specific mineral waters with the exact blend of salts,…

Very interesting, thank you!

Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

#376

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> we should start calling bottled water "plastic water" Might that be surprisingly effective as way to reduce bottled water use? As a drop-in replacement for the phrase "bottled water", it meme-ishly supports interpersonal and self discouragement of use: "Here's your plastic water dear."; "Don't forget to buy my plastic water.". The "plasticness" of bottles is highly salient when opening, handling, and trashing them,…

I already call it that way, but for different reasons. My wife only drinks carbonated bottled water as she's a germaphobe and dislikes home-carbonators (I've tried everything...), but once she became pregnant I had to start dragging her bottles up to our apartment. I became very resentful of the fact that I had to either buy and drag glass or plastic bottles up to our flat only to bring them back to the store empty.…

All that carbonic acid can't be great for her teeth.

Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study

#380
post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plastic bottled water is not bought because it is higher quality. People buy it because it comes in a disposable container.

For the majority of the population of South America, it is bought because the tap water is not potable. I imagine that is the case in other continents as well.

Really? On a recent trip to Chile and Argentina I only drank tap water everywhere and had no issues.
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