Microplastics in Our Drinking Water?

Through the Tap: Are Microplastics in Our Drinking Water? 

This chapter explores the pervasive issue of microplastics (MPs) in drinking water, emphasizing their origins, pathways, health impacts, and mitigation strategies. MPs originate from diverse land-based and oceanic activities, entering water systems through surface runoff, wastewater, and improper disposal of plastics. Surface water, groundwater, and bottled water serve as key contamination routes, with treatment plants achieving partial success in removing MPs. Analytical methods such as spectroscopy and chromatography are pivotal for detecting MPs but face challenges due to their minute size and low concentrations in water. The chapter highlights the health risks posed by MPs, including physical, chemical, and microbiological toxicity, bioaccumulation, and potential endocrine disruption. It also emphasizes the increasing concerns about nano-plastics, which may penetrate biological barriers and pose severe health threats. Mitigation strategies include improving wastewater treatment processes, reducing plastic waste at the source, and advancing detection technologies. Public awareness and international cooperation are critical for effective action. Despite progress, the chapter underscores the need for standardized protocols, further research, and innovative solutions to fully understand and address the impact of MPs on drinking water quality and public health. The findings emphasize the urgency of collective efforts to safeguard drinking water from this emerging pollutant.

Islam, Md. Mirazul and Dixit, Shubha and Singh, Rajesh and Sharma, Bhavtosh, Through the Tap: Are Microplastics in Our Drinking Water? (December 28, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5120555 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5120555

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