Identification of microplastics in bottled water, a potential risk to human health

Mexico is the leading consumer of bottled water. Microplastic pollutants are emerging that are ubiquitous in the environment, posing a risk to human and environmental health. The aim was to determine the presence of microplastics in commercial bottled water using Nile Red staining, and 30% hydrogen peroxide oxidation. Microplastics were verified by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Microplastics were identified in all brands analyzed, with higher count observed in the oxidation method (16,504 range: 604 to 8,648) compared to Nile Red staining (4,812; range: 73 to 2,013), p = 0.04 (Mann-Whitney U test). Granules predominated in both methods. Exposure to microplastics per kilogram of body weight in children and infants was 3 to 5 times higher than in adults. The long-term effects of this exposure remain unknown, highlighting the need to implement monitoring programs for emergency contaminants to ensure access to high-quality water.