WATER TECH

How to Filter Microplastics from Water

March 24, 22

Microplastics have recently been found to be present in human blood.

The impact of microplastics on human health has long been speculated but not confirmed. Recently, in March of 2022, Prof Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands released a study finding microplastic pollution in 80% of blood from human subjects. (1)

"The discovery shows the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. The impact on health is as yet unknown. But researchers are concerned as microplastics cause damage to human cells." (1)

Half of the samples tested specifically contained PET plastic, the type of plastic found in plastic water and beverage bottles. (1)

Microplastics are in our drinking water.

83 percent of tap water worldwide contains microplastics, according to an in-depth study by State University of New York at Fredonia. The United States has the highest presence: 94 percent of U.S. tap water is contaminated with microplastics (2). Microplastics have also found their way into bottled water: microplastics were found in 93 percent of 11 popular water bottle brands around the world (3).

Another study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund revealed that from all the microplastics found in water, air, and other sources, humans consume more than 70,000 particles of microplastics every year (4). This is equivalent to consuming a credit card’s weight in plastic every week (4).

Currently, most water filters do not remove microplastics and there are only a few labs in the world that can even do the test.

How does LifeStraw remove microplastics?

The smallest microplastic particles reportedly detected in the most recent study were 0.0007mm (0.7 micron).(1) LifeStraw's unique membrane microfiltration technology filters to a size of 0.2 microns, meaning microplastics are too large to pass through our filter. All LifeStraw products therefore remove microplastics from water (5). In fact, LifeStraw’s filters have been independently tested to remove 99.999 percent of all microplastics from water (5). LifeStraw's Home Line of products are among the only household water filtration pitchers and dispensers with this membrane technology. In addition, LifeStraw's water filter bottles are among the only water filtration everyday bottles guaranteed to remove microplastics because of the inclusion of the membrane technology.

MORE ABOUT MICROPLASTICS:

What are microplastics?

Since the 1950s, plastic manufacturing has skyrocketed and with it, plastic contamination. Everything from plastic straws to plastic soda rings are polluting bodies of water around the world. Plastic pollution is certainly a huge issue in the conversation of environmental degradation, but where does its smaller counterpart, microplastics, fall into the conversation? Barely visible, this form of plastic has a shocking presence and impact on the world. Less than five millimeters long, these pieces of plastic can easily be ingested by marine life or leech into our water supplies (8).

Where do they come from and where are they in the environment?

There are many sources of microplastics. They are used in manufacturing, paints and 3D printing. They come from broken down plastic that decomposes by the sun or wind (2). And, microplastics live in beauty and personal care products—such as toothpaste or moisturizers—as well as clothing with synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester (8). When certain cosmetic products are used, the microbeads wash down the sink or shower drain and into the sewer system. Similarly, microfibers are released and drained with the water when clothes are washed.

Microplastics pose a huge threat to the health of marine life. Studies have discovered microplastics across the deep ocean, not just on the shorelines or water surfaces (5). This has caused microplastics to be consumed by all types of animals in the deep sea, prompting them to have digestive and growth issues (9).

How can you help to minimize microplastic pollution?

The LifeStraw’s new Home water filter pitcher is a great solution to protecting against microplastics in your water, but what can you do to minimize microplastic pollution in general? Microplastics may be invisible, but their negative impact on the environment is large and growing. To start, simply reduce your plastic consumption. Whether it be metal straws, reusable shopping bags or using your own mug at Starbucks, there are several easy ways to minimize your obvious plastic use. On a more detailed scale, take the time to research cosmetic products and clothing brands that do not contain microbeads or microfibers. You can find a full list here of country-specific products to avoid and click here for brands with products 100 percent free of microplastics (1). To learn more about reducing plastic consumption, check out LifeStraw’s “5 ways to reduce your dependence on single-use plastics in your daily routine.”