Context: 

A recent study conducted by scientists at Columbia University in New York has found that a litre of bottled water may contain over one hundred thousand particles of micro and nano plastics.

• The prefix ‘micro’ signifies a fraction of one-millionth, while ‘nano’ indicates a fraction of one-billionth.

About Microplastic and Nano Plastic

Microplastics:

• Microplastics are extremely small plastic particles. 
• Size Range:  These particles range from 100 nanometers (nm) to 5 millimetres (mm).
• Sources: They come from various places such as plastic waste, the breakdown of larger plastic items, and industrial activities.
• Widespread Presence: Microplastics are everywhere, including oceans, rivers, soil, and even the air.
• Detection Challenges: Their tiny size makes them difficult to detect without special equipment.

Nano Plastics:

• Nano plastics are even tinier than microplastics. 
• Smaller Size: These particles’ dimensions are less than 100 nm (about 1/10,000 mm).
• Invisibility: They are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye or microscopes.
• Formation: Nano plastics can form from the breakdown of larger plastic particles or through deliberate engineering at the nanoscale.

Key Findings of the Study

• Nanoplastic Prevalence: The study found approximately 240,000 micro and nano plastic particles per litre of bottled water. 
  • Tiny Particles Predominate: Roughly 90% of plastic particles detected are those that were previously invisible through conventional imaging techniques.
    • Microplastics Concentration: The remaining 10% identified as microplastics have a concentration of about 30,000 particles per litre. These particles are smaller than 2 µm.
    • Larger particle concentration: Larger particles (>2 µm), easier to spot using regular optical microscopy, are found in similar quantities as reported in microplastic analyses, depending on the detection limitations of different technologies.
• Presence of Unmatched Particles: The study also detected particles in the sample that didn’t correspond to existing standards.
• • Implications Beyond Plastic Contaminants: This suggests that the composition of particles in bottled water may encompass elements beyond what is typically considered plastic contaminants.
• Types of Plastics found in the bottled water:  The study found various plastic particles polyamide 66, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
• Increased Threat to Human Health: Nanoplastics are considered to pose a bigger danger to human well-being compared to microplastics due to their size. 
  • Ability to Enter Bloodstream and Cells: Their small size allows them to enter the bloodstream and penetrate human cells, potentially affecting organs.
  • Heightened Toxicity: Nanoplastics are considered more toxic due to their smaller size, making it easier for them to enter the human body than larger microplastics.
  • Potential Impact on Unborn Babies: These tiny plastic particles can also cross the placenta and enter the bodies of unborn babies.
• Presence of plastics in all ecosystems:  Microplastics are present in all ecosystems from ocean trenches to the tops of Himalayan mountains.

News Source: The Hindu