Boiling water at home cuts microplastics by up to 90%
Plastic particles are seeping into our bodies in alarming amounts, mainly through food and drink. Researchers from Chinese universities have discovered a simple and effective method to remove them from water.
Tiny plastic fragments enter our bodies in alarming quantities, primarily through eating and drinking. In 2024, scientists discovered a simple and effective way to remove them from water. A team from Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University in China conducted tests on both soft and hard water. The research was published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
The effectiveness of boiling and filtering
The researchers note in their article that nano- and microplastics (NMP) present in tap water, originating from central water treatment systems, are becoming a growing global concern due to the potential health risks they pose through regular water consumption. They added nanoplastics and microplastics to the water, then boiled it and filtered out the sediments. In some cases, up to 90% of particles were removed thanks to the boiling and filtering process, although the effectiveness varied depending on the type of water.
The most significant advantage of this method is that most people can implement it using what they already have in their kitchens. Zimin Yu, the lead author of the study and a biomedical engineer at Guangzhou Medical University, along with his team, suggests that a straightforward method like boiling water can effectively remove nano- and microplastics from tap water, offering a safe way to reduce human intake of these particles.
The impact of water hardness
A higher concentration of NMP was removed from samples of hard tap water that naturally form limescale deposits (calcium carbonate) when heated. "Our results showed that the efficiency of nanoplastic precipitation increases with water hardness during boiling," the team writes. For example, from 34% at 80 mg/L to 84% and 90% at 180 and 300 mg/L calcium carbonate.
Even in soft water, where less calcium carbonate is dissolved, about a quarter of the NMP was removed. The plastic fragments covered with lime deposits can then be removed using a simple filter, like a stainless steel mesh used for brewing tea.
Long-term benefits
Previous studies have shown the presence of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate fragments in the drinking water we consume daily in varying amounts. To test the strategy, researchers added even more nanoplastic particles, which were effectively reduced in number.
"Drinking boiled water is visibly a viable long-term strategy to reduce global exposure to NMP," the researchers write, adding that "drinking boiled water is often seen as a local tradition and is common only in a few regions." The research team hopes that drinking boiled water will become a more widespread practice as plastic continues to grow in importance worldwide.
Although it is not yet certain how harmful this plastic is to our bodies, it is known that it is not the healthiest snack. Plastic has already been linked to changes in the gut microbiome and the body's resistance to antibiotics. The team behind this latest study wants to see more research into how boiled water can protect our bodies from artificial materials and counteract the alarming effects of microplastics.
The authors of the study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters stated that their findings demonstrated a practical approach to significantly lowering human exposure to NMP and laid the groundwork for future research involving a larger sample size.
