Did You Know...

Microplastics in Drinking Water – The Facts

Microplastics (tiny plastic particles <5 mm) have been detected in both tap water and bottled water worldwide. While research is still evolving, the following statistics come from large-scale studies and systematic reviews:

• Bottled water typically contains significantly higher levels of microplastics than tap water.

  • A landmark 2018 study analyzing 259 bottles from 11 brands in 9 countries found an average of 325 microplastic particles per liter (>6.5 µm), with 93% of samples showing contamination. Fragments were the dominant shape (65%), and polypropylene (often from bottle caps) was the most common polymer.
  • A 2024 study using advanced nano-detection methods reported an average of ~240,000 nanoplastic and microplastic particles per liter in major U.S. bottled water brands (range 110,000–400,000), with most particles <1 µm.

• Tap water contains far fewer microplastics.

  • The same 2018 global study found an average of ~5.5 microplastic particles per liter in tap water samples (roughly 50–60× lower than bottled water in the >100 µm range).
  • Recent European surveys (2020–2024) report averages of 3–9 microplastic particles per liter in treated tap water after conventional drinking water treatment, with most particles removed during filtration.

• Annual ingestion estimates (based on average adult consumption of ~2 L/day):

  • Tap water drinkers: approximately 4,000–7,000 microplastic particles per year (older estimates); some higher-resolution studies suggest up to ~90,000 particles/year when including smaller sizes.
  • Bottled water drinkers: approximately 90,000–240,000 particles per year (older estimates); recent nano-focused studies indicate substantially higher numbers (potentially millions of nanoplastics/year).

• Health implications – current scientific consensus (as of 2025):

  • Microplastics are ubiquitous and have been detected in human blood, lungs, placenta, liver, brain tissue, and other organs.
  • Observational studies have associated higher microplastic levels in arterial plaque with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death (2024 NEJM study).
  • Laboratory (cell/animal) studies show potential effects including inflammation, oxidative stress, immune disruption, and reproductive/developmental toxicity at high doses.
  • No definitive causal link has been established between typical environmental exposure levels and specific human diseases. The World Health Organization (2019) and multiple 2024–2025 reviews state that current evidence does not allow firm conclusions about human health risks at real-world exposure levels, but call for more research, especially on nanoplastics (<1 µm).

VaginaWATER is packaged exclusively in aluminum cans with no plastic lining, eliminating the primary source of bottle-derived microplastics and nanoplastics found in plastic-bottled water. Our approach provides a safer, microplastic-reduced hydration option while using infinitely recyclable packaging that requires 95% less energy to recycle than producing new plastic.