Microplastic in Drinking Water: A Pilot Study
-
Published:2024-01-09
Issue:1
Volume:3
Page:31-45
-
ISSN:2673-8929
-
Container-title:Microplastics
-
language:en
-
Short-container-title:Microplastics
Author:
Brancaleone Eleonora1, Mattei Daniela1, Fuscoletti Valentina1ORCID, Lucentini Luca1, Favero Gabriele2ORCID, Cecchini Giancarlo3, Frugis Alessandro3, Gioia Valentina3, Lazzazzara Marco3
Affiliation:
1. National Centre for Water Safety, Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), 00161 Rome, Italy 2. Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy 3. Acea Infrastructure SpA, 00189 Rome, Italy
Abstract
In recent years, microplastic pollution has been a hot topic as these compounds have been used in various production contexts such as health, food or technology due to their chemical and physical properties and “shelf-life,” making them almost indispensable products in daily life. On the other hand, they have a negative impact on the environment and, consequently, on biota and human health. It is therefore necessary to assess the actual presence of microplastics in drinking water by analysing real samples in order to estimate the possible exposure through drinking water consumption. In this pilot study, drinking water from different aqueous matrices was examined for the presence of microplastics and characterized in terms of shape, size, abundance and polymer type by Raman microspectroscopy analysis. Not all samples analysed were found to be contaminated with microplastics, indeed, some, as in the case of water kiosk samples, were found to be free of such contaminants. The results for the various matrices showed that the microplastics content ranged from less than 2 particles/L to a maximum of 5 + 1.5 particles/L, with sizes ranging from 30 to 100 μm and consisted of the most common polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate.
Funder
Italian Ministry of University and Research
Reference71 articles.
1. Assessing exposure of the Australian population to microplastics through bottled water consumption;Samandra;Sci. Total Environ.,2022 2. Assessment of microplastics in freshwater systems: A review;Li;Sci. Total Environ.,2020 3. Strafella, P., Lopez Correa, M., Pyko, I., Teichert, S., and Gomiero, A. (2020). Distribution of microplastics in the marine environment. Handb. Microplastics Environ., 1–35. 4. The ocean’s ultimate trashcan: Hadal trenches as major depositories for plastic pollution;Peng;Water Res.,2020 5. Parolini, M., Antonioli, D., Borgogno, F., Gibellino, M.C., Fresta, J., Albonico, C., De Felice, B., Canuto, S., Concedi, D., and Romani, A. (2021). Microplastic Contamination in Snow from Western Italian Alps. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.
|
|