Your go-to hydration habit might not be as harmless as you think
Health researchers are sounding the alarm after discovering a hazardous substance lurking inside plastic water bottles that could be impacting your organs.
Recent industry statistics reveal that people across North America consumed a staggering 16.2 billion gallons of bottled water in 2024, marking a noticeable 2 percent jump from the previous year.
While grabbing a bottle of your favorite brand might seem like a smart choice for staying healthy, experts now say it could actually be harming your body in ways you didn’t expect.
What we already knew about bottled water safety
In earlier research, teams from Columbia and Rutgers Universities found that just one liter of bottled water contained around 240,000 fragments of microplastics and nanoplastics.
These tiny plastic particles formed as larger plastics break down can sneak their way into everyday items like beauty products, cleaning supplies, and yes, even single-use water bottles.
After testing five samples from three major bottled water brands, scientists discovered seven distinct types of plastics present in the water.
The list of materials included nylon (known as polyamide), PET (which is part of the polyester family), and even polystyrene.
In their study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, experts suggested that most of the microplastics likely originated from the bottles themselves, breaking down over time.
Researchers warned that these microplastics, once ingested, could travel to critical organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain. In pregnant individuals, they could even cross the placental barrier and reach unborn babies, CNN reports.
How microplastics can harm internal organs
Building on that earlier work, a fresh study in Communications Biology has now shown that our kidneys may be taking the brunt of the damage from microplastic exposure.
This new research, titled ‘Activation of gut metabolite ACSL4/LPCAT3 by microplastics in drinking water mediates ferroptosis via gut–kidney axis’, found that microplastics are a major carrier of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP).
BaP is a harmful hydrocarbon known to increase cancer risk, cause genetic issues, and even affect fertility, according to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
It’s also considered highly toxic to aquatic ecosystems and is known to trigger allergic skin reactions.
The study claims that bottled water is a leading source of these microplastics, warning that the BaP-laced fragments are damaging our gut lining, harming kidneys, and triggering inflammation throughout the body.
How to lower your microplastic intake
The bright side? You can slash your microplastic consumption significantly just by steering clear of bottled water altogether.
Experts recommend installing a high-quality water filter at home. This simple change can reduce your microplastic intake by as much as 90 percent.
One study from Genomic Press noted that switching away from bottled drinks could cut your yearly exposure to microplastics from 90,000 particles down to just 4,000.
"Given the widespread presence of microplastics in the environment, completely eliminating exposure is unrealistic."
"A more practical approach is to reduce the most significant sources of microplastic intake," the researchers explained in their findings.
Other helpful steps to reduce plastic exposure
If bottled water is still your go-to, don’t worry. There are plenty of other steps you can take to limit your intake of microplastics.
For starters, try storing food in glass containers, sipping drinks through stainless steel straws, and paying close attention to your seafood consumption.
Another tip is to ditch plastic bags at the store and bring along a reusable cotton tote instead. Opting for organic clothing can also help reduce exposure.
And by using public transportation more often, you’re helping reduce car-related pollution, which also contributes to microplastic pollution.
