93% of Bottled Water Contains Microplastic Particles
Published testing found microplastics in the overwhelming majority of bottled water samples — often at far higher levels than filtered tap water.
of tested bottles contained microplastics
plastic particles per liter (avg bottled water)
more particles ingested yearly vs tap water
The Story Behind the Number
Microplastics are plastic fragments smaller than five millimeters, and nanoplastics are smaller still — tiny enough to cross biological barriers in the body. They shed from packaging, bottle caps, and the bottling process itself.
A widely cited study (Mason et al., SUNY Fredonia, 2018) found microplastics in about 93% of 259 bottles tested from 11 brands. More recent research using advanced imaging detected hundreds of thousands of nanoplastic particles per liter of bottled water — vastly more than earlier methods could see.
What This Means for Your Home
- Choosing bottled water for 'purity' can backfire: the plastic packaging is itself a major source of the particles you are trying to avoid.
- Switching to filtered tap water in a glass or stainless bottle dramatically cuts both microplastic exposure and single-use plastic waste.
- A quality home filtration system reduces particulates at the source — no plastic bottles required.
Skip the bottle, filter at home
WaterVO, our sister company, supplies the home filtration systems and atmospheric water generators we vet — so you get clean water without single-use plastic.
Sources: State University of New York at Fredonia bottled-water study; Columbia University / PNAS nanoplastics research (2024).
WaterVO is an independent seller of water products. Hydrology University is a publisher and referral source, not the seller.
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