February 5, 2026 | 06:53 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A recent study from Ohio State University revealed that bottled drinking water contains more nanoplastic particles than processed tap water. Research estimates that nanoplastic particles in bottled drinking water are three times higher.
These findings contradict the common perception that bottled water is a cleaner and safer option from plastic particle contamination. Microplastics have long been a concern, but nanoplastics are considered to be an even greater concern due to their much smaller size and difficulty of detection.
"While we don’t really fully understand the human health risks associated with nanoplastic exposure, it’s still better to try and mitigate that risk," said study author Megan Hart, quoted from Earth on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Scientists used a combination of high-resolution imaging techniques and chemical identification to check nanoplastic contamination. Advanced methods such as electron microscope scanning and optical infrared photothermal spectroscopy allowed them to identify these super small particles.
Regarding the source of contamination, the study found that the most common type of plastic found in bottled water comes from the packaging itself. This is consistent with the suspicion that these particles leach from the bottle or bottle cap during the bottling and product handling processes.
Megan Hart suggested that the public should start making wise choices to reduce exposure to these harmful chemicals. "For the average person who is thirsty and wants a drink, the best way to do that would be drinking it straight out of the tap rather than grabbing pre-bottled water," said the PhD student at Ohio State University.
The study, also published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, is expected to lead to improvements in the design of future water treatment systems. John Lenhart, another author in this study, added that a deep understanding of the composition of materials in water is essential for making better design decisions for environmental remediation.
"By understanding the basic composition of the materials in water and the reactions important for controlling that composition, we can make better design decisions for future treatment or for remediation," said John Lenhart.
Read: Why the Nipah Virus Is Dangerous Despite Few Cases
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