Plastic fibers are found in most of the world's water supply: Study

Tap water in the U.S. had the highest contamination rate of sites sampled actross the globe.

Sept. 7, 2017

2 min read

Content Dam Ww Online Articles 2017 09 Tap Water

MINNESOTA & NEW YORK, SEPT 7, 2017 -- Microplastics are found in tap water around the world, according to a new study. Scientists working for Orb Media report that of hundreds of samples collected, about 83 percent of tap water around the world contains plastic fibers.

The study was conducted with researchers from the State University of New York and the University of Minnesota, and tested 159 tap water samples from five different continents, reports Public Radio International.

Tap water in the U.S. had the highest contamination rate, at 94%, with plastic fibers found in tap water sampled at sites including Congressional buildings and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters. The next highest rates were found in samples from Lebanon and India.

Out of every 500 ml sample of water from the United States, researchers FOUND 4.8 plastic fibers. This is compared with the average 1.9 plastic fibers found in European water samples.

Mary Kosuth, who performed tests for the Orb Media study at the University of Minnesota, wrote that this study is just the first step in determining how serious and widespread the issue of plastic contamination in tap water is.

“Since this is the first global tap water survey of plastic pollution to have been completed, the results of this study serve as an initial glimpse at the consequences of human plastic use [and] disposal rather than a comprehensive assessment of global plastic contamination,” she wrote. “These results call for further testing within and between regions.”