Worried about microplastics? Scientists found a simple way of removing them from drinking water

Microplastics are an ever-growing concern in the modern world and research is proving that their relentless use is becoming quite worrisome now. The growing presence of microplastics in our environment is raising significant concerns for human health. As the evidence of microplastics’ potentially harmful effects piles on, the excessive usage of the same is becoming alarming day by day.

As per recent studies, microplastics are potentially responsible for cancer, infertility, respiratory dysfunction, and other chronic diseases. All these illnesses are long-term consequences of our dependence on plastics.

Not just that, a study (the abstract published in the January 2025 issue of Pregnancy, the first official journal for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine) found that microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in the placenta at much higher levels in preterm births than in full-term pregnancies.

Microplastics are absorbed into the body primarily through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. These particles can be ingested through contaminated food and water, inhaled as airborne particles, or absorbed through the skin.


However, to our great relief, scientists have managed to find a simple and effective means of removing them from water.



Read on the find out how.


The research:

In 2024, a collaborative research team from Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University in China conducted a series of experiments examining both soft water and hard tap water, the latter of which is characterized by its higher mineral content.

In their research paper, the scientists expressed significant concern regarding “tap water nano/microplastics (NMPs) escaping from centralized water treatment systems,” emphasizing the potential health risks these contaminants pose to humans through daily water consumption. To investigate this further, the researchers introduced nanoplastics and microplastics into the water samples prior to boiling and subsequently filtered out any resulting precipitates.

Remarkably, the boiling and filtering process proved effective in removing as much as 90% of the NMPs, although the success of this method varied depending on the type of water used. The practical advantage of this method lies in its accessibility; most households can perform this simple technique using common kitchen items. Biomedical engineer Zimin Yu, representing the team at Guangzhou Medical University, stated, “This simple boiling water strategy can 'decontaminate' NMPs from household tap water and hold promise for harmlessly reducing human intake of NMPs through water consumption.”

The researchers observed that a greater percentage of NMPs were effectively eliminated from samples of hard tap water. This type of water naturally leads to the formation of limescale—primarily calcium carbonate—when heated. As the temperature of hard water rises, this chalky substance tends to accumulate, fostering a layer on the plastic surfaces that traps the minuscule plastic fragments. According to the researchers, “Our results showed that nanoplastic precipitation efficiency increased with increasing water hardness upon boiling.”


The findings:

The findings of this compelling research were published in the esteemed journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

To illustrate their findings further, the team provided specific percentages: they noted the removal of NMPs increased significantly, reaching 34% at a hardness of 80 mg L−1 of calcium carbonate, escalating to 84% at 180 mg L−1, and peaking at an impressive 90% at 300 mg L−1. Even in softer water, where calcium carbonate levels are lower, approximately 25 of the NMPs were successfully captured. The research team noted that any lime-coated plastic particles could be conveniently eliminated using a simple filter, such as a stainless steel mesh commonly employed for straining tea.

Previous studies have detected fragments of various plastics—including polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate—in drinking water supplies. With the aim of rigorously testing their strategy, the researchers added an increased concentration of nanoplastic particles to the water samples, which resulted in a notable reduction of these contaminants.

“Drinking boiled water apparently is a viable long-term strategy for reducing global exposure to NMPs,” the researchers concluded in their findings. However, they also recognized that boiling water is perceived as a cultural custom in only a limited number of regions around the world.



The way forward:

As concerns over plastic pollution continue to grow, the study's authors express hope that the practice of drinking boiled water will become more prevalent. While the full extent of the health implications posed by microplastics remains uncertain, existing research already suggests links between plastic consumption and alterations in the gut microbiome, as well as increased antibiotic resistance in the body.

The research team is eager to further explore how boiling water could serve as a barrier against the absorption of harmful artificial materials, potentially mitigating some of the concerning effects associated with microplastics. “Our results have substantively validated a highly feasible strategy to curtail human exposure to NMPs and laid an essential groundwork for future studies involving a larger array of samples,” the authors stated.



What are microplastics and nanoplastics?

Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than 5 mm (0.20 in) in length, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Chemicals Agency. US EPA researchers define microplastics, or MPs, as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters (mm), which is about the size of a pencil eraser, to 1 nanometer (nm).

For comparison, a strand of human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide.

Nanoplastics are tiny plastic particles that are less than one micrometer in size. They are created when larger plastic objects break down or are a byproduct of industrial processes.



The damaging effects of microplastics and nanoplastics:

Microplastics and nanoplastics can cause significant damage to living organisms, including humans, by triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, disrupting cellular processes, and potentially impacting various organs due to their ability to penetrate tissues and accumulate within the body, particularly when ingested or inhaled; this can lead to potential health issues like respiratory problems, digestive disorders, and reproductive complications depending on the exposure level and particle size.

Key points:

Cellular damage: These tiny plastic particles can directly damage cells by causing physical disruption, disrupting cell membranes, and inducing cell death (apoptosis).

Oxidative stress: Microplastics and nanoplastics can trigger oxidative stress within the body by generating harmful free radicals, leading to cellular damage and potential disease development.

Inflammation: The presence of these particles can trigger an inflammatory response in the body, potentially contributing to chronic inflammatory diseases.

Tissue accumulation: Due to their small size, nanoplastics can readily penetrate tissue barriers and accumulate in various organs, including the liver, lungs, and reproductive organs.

Disruption of organ function: Depending on the organ affected, accumulation of microplastics and nanoplastics can disrupt normal physiological processes, leading to potential organ dysfunction.