Plastic Fibers Found In 83 Percent of World's Tap Water, Study Reveals (theguardian.com)

Robotron23 writes: Research published by Orb Media, a nonprofit journalism group, has revealed that microplastics have contaminated high proportions of drinking water and bottled water. Samples from the United States tested positive in 94% of instances, while Europe's contamination averages around 72%. Tests were undertaken at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, with lead researcher Dr. Anne Marie Mahon noting the risk of plastics carrying bacteria, and commenting: "In terms of fibers, the diameter is 10 microns across and it would be very unusual to find that level of filtration in our drinking water systems." As for the culprit, the report mentions the atmosphere as one obvious source, "with fibers shed by the everyday wear and tear of clothes and carpets." Another potential source is tumble dryers, "with almost 80% of U.S. households having dryers that usually vent to the open air." Overall, the investigation by Orb Media found that 83% of the samples were contaminated with plastic fibers.

Comments

This isn't new

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's an article from 2011

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2011/10/laundry-lint-pollutes-worlds-oceans

Also from 2011

http://morgellonsdiseaseawareness.com/morgellons_photo_galleries/morgellons_fibers_in_water_supply

These fibers might actually explain Morgellon's Disease which is currently understood as a form of delusional parasitosis.

The second link says filtration and boiling don't work but reverse osmosis removes 95%.

If only bacteria could be engineered to eat this shit...

Re:This isn't new

[Anonymous Coward]

I will gladly hear how plastic particles can get through a nano filtration or reverse osmosis filtration as physically there is no way a micro meter particule size can go through the pore size (you understand that for reverse osmosis even Na+ ion cannot go through it....). Is it some form of quantic tunnelling not seen before?

Perhaps I'm just lucky

[Ritz_Just_Ritz]

My home is fed by my own private well and the water gets filtered by a reverse osmosis filtration system. Certainly not foolproof, but plastic fibers are likely the least of your worries in the public water system. I'd be a lot more concerned about pharmaceuticals in the water supply....like anti-depressants.

Water treatment failing?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sounds like we (US especially) need to upgrade our water treatment facilities. Contact your representatives.

Useless in vaccuum of information

[aepervius]

It does not matter if they found 4.9 microfiber of size below of 2.5 micrometer. The question is : does it have a significant impact on biological activity of human at those level, and is it below or above the legally set quantity ? That is the correct question. If the answer is no, then my own comment is "meh ?".

Academics

[Dunbal]

Fucking academics who have never left a schoolground and gone to a construction site.

Plastic fibers are coming from the air.... as opposed to leaching off from those miles and miles of PVC conduit water has to run through before getting to your tap.