Plastic bottles shed dangerous fragments into drinking water

Phi Phi islands sparkle in travel photos. Blue seas, soft beaches, postcard views. Yet for Sarah Sajedi, that beauty came with a shock.

“I was standing there looking out at this gorgeous view of the Andaman Sea, and then I looked down and beneath my feet were all these pieces of plastic, most of them water bottles,” she said.

“I’ve always had a passion for waste reduction, but I realized that this was a problem with consumption.”

That moment pushed her back to Concordia University for a Ph.D. She set her sights on plastic waste and left business behind.

Years of experience at ERA Environmental Management Solutions gave Sajedi the tools. Now her research spotlights the risks of bottled water, a subject most people barely think about.

Microplastics in plastic bottles

Sajedi’s review of more than 140 studies shows a staggering trend. People swallow between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles every year. Bottled water drinkers add roughly 90,000 more.

These particles are tiny. A microplastic can measure just a thousandth of a millimeter. Nanoplastics are even smaller.

Bottles shed fragments every time they’re made, stored, or heated. Leave one in a hot car, and the process speeds up.

Unlike plastics that creep into food through the chain of fish or meat, bottled water delivers fragments straight into the body. That direct route makes the exposure constant.

Why size matters

Once inside, particles don’t always pass through. The smallest ones cross biological boundaries. Some slip into the bloodstream, others settle in organs.

Research links this to chronic inflammation, hormonal disruption, oxidative stress, neurological problems, even cancer, showing how far-reaching the impacts can be.

The smaller the particle, the bigger the risk. Nanoplastics enter cells and interact with DNA and proteins. That opens the door to genetic damage and long-term health effects.

Scientists warn this isn’t a one-time problem. It’s steady, daily exposure from drinking habits that seem harmless but quietly build serious health risks over time.

Substances linked to cancer

Water bottles aren’t just plastic. They carry additives. Chemicals like bisphenols and phthalates can leach into the liquid, especially when bottles face heat or repeated use.

Those substances disrupt hormones and may weaken immune systems. Some are already linked to cancer, while others remain poorly studied, raising new questions about long-term safety.

Combine that with microplastic exposure, and the risk grows. Studies suggest the two act together, amplifying harm in ways scientists are only beginning to map.

It’s not simply plastic particles or chemicals alone. It’s the mix that makes bottled water a serious concern.

Exposure is underestimated

Studying the problem isn’t easy. Scientists use different tools, and none are perfect. Some detect small fragments but can’t say what they’re made of.

Other tools show chemical composition but miss the tiniest plastics. The best machines do both, but they cost a fortune.

Because of these limits, research often underestimates exposure. Nanoplastics, the most dangerous, slip past detection. That makes bottled water appear safer than it is.

Without consistent methods, it’s hard to compare results or create global safety standards.

Gaps in policy

Governments have taken steps against single-use plastics. Bags, straws, and packaging often face bans. Bottled water, however, escapes attention. Sajedi calls that a blind spot.

“Education is the most important action we can take,” she said. “Drinking water from plastic bottles is fine in an emergency but it is not something that should be used in daily life. People need to understand that the issue is not acute toxicity – it is chronic toxicity.”

Awareness matters. A single bottle won’t harm anyone. A lifetime of bottles might. Most people never consider that difference.

Reducing plastic bottle use

Solutions already exist. Reusable containers reduce both waste and exposure. Public fountains and refill stations make alternatives accessible.

Researchers are also testing new biodegradable plastics, although some of these options raise fresh safety concerns.

Shifting habits remains the hardest part. Bottled water still feels convenient, safe, and clean. Marketing only reinforces that belief. Sajedi argues that until people see the risks of daily use, change will stay slow.

Her work, conducted in collaboration with colleagues Chunjiang An and Zhi Chen, urges society to move faster.

Paradise beaches covered in bottles tell one story. The hidden plastic inside our bodies tells another. Both deserve attention before the damage grows.

The study is published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

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