Author(s): Nurul Rabitah Daud; Nur Liana Ahmad Ashaidi
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Microplastics; Tap water; Bottled drinking water; Soft drinks; Estimated daily intake
Abstract: There is a rising sense of concern over the shortage of data regarding the effects of microplastic consumption on human health. The purpose of this study is to analyse tap water, bottled drinking water, and soft drinks from Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Selangor, for the presence and morphologies of microplastics along with the estimated daily intake (EDI) for adults. The EDI highlights the pressing need to comprehend the consequences of microplastic pollution on human health. This study used 2 litre water samples that were subjected to vacuum-assisted filtration and examined under a microscope. 19 of the 20 water samples tested contained microplastics. Despite the short sample size, the study revealed that bottled water and soft drinks were polluted with an alarming abundance of 12.6 p/L and 20 p/L, respectively, while public residences had an average of 7.8 p/L and private residences 7.6 p/L. Fibres were the most common morphology, accounting for 49.5% on average across all three sets of samples. This study serves as the basis for the discussion of the characteristics and possible origins of microplastics that contaminate drinking water. Besides, the work is beneficial for future studies to address the challenges and limitations of microplastics in drinking water.
Year: 2024