Recently, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America published a stunning study revealing that on average, every liter of bottled water contains approximately 240,000 detectable plastic particles. These nano-sized plastic particles can enter our intestines or lung cells, then travel through the bloodstream to reach the heart and brain. For pregnant women, they can even pass through the placenta and enter the fetus.
So, faced with such pollution, how can we ensure the safety of our drinking water? Can boiling water effectively reduce the content of microplastics? Liu Xiaochuan, Director and Chief Physician of the Department of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases at the Emergency General Hospital, will reveal to you how to reduce the content of microplastics by boiling water, making your drinking water safer.
Boiling water is a simple and effective method to reduce microplastic content.
The recent research results on microplastics in bottled water are shocking, which forces us to re-examine our drinking water habits. For most households, boiling water is a simple and effective method of sterilization.
Regarding microplastics, boiling water can indeed reduce its content to some extent. When water is boiled, microplastic particles combine with calcium carbonate in the water to form precipitates. Through simple filtration, we can remove up to 84% of microplastics. Therefore, boiling water before drinking is indeed an effective method to reduce the intake of microplastics.
When water is heated to boiling, microplastic particles, due to differences in density and size, will separate from other substances in the water, with some settling to the bottom. Therefore, after boiling water, if conditions permit, we can use filters or cheesecloth for simple filtration to further reduce the microplastic particles in the water.
Microplastics “lurk” in daily life: Have you mastered these “self-defense techniques”?
Ensure drinking water safety by doing these four things:
- Choose high-quality bottled water: When purchasing bottled water, pay attention to the product label and certification information, and choose brands with quality assurance. Avoid buying bottled water of unknown origin or excessively low price.
- Regularly replace water bottles and cups: Even high-quality water bottles and cups may wear out over time, leading to the generation of microplastics. It is recommended to replace them regularly and keep them clean.
- Install a household water purifier: Installing a household water purifier can effectively remove impurities and microplastic particles from water, providing safer drinking water.
- Use stainless steel or glass water bottles: Boiling water is safer because these materials are less likely to release microplastic particles.
Therefore, we should try to avoid using plastic water bottles, especially at high temperatures, as the chemicals in plastic may accelerate degradation, increasing the risk of microplastics.
Simple changes in these common scenarios can effectively avoid microplastics:
Use reusable shopping bags: When shopping, choose reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags, which are both environmentally friendly and stylish.
Reduce intake of takeout and fast food: Takeout and fast food packaging often contain large amounts of plastic, which may not only generate microplastics but also contain other harmful substances. Try to cook for yourself, which is both healthy and environmentally friendly.
Pay attention to food packaging: When purchasing food, check whether the packaging is intact to avoid buying damaged or deformed packaged food.
Cultivate these personal hygiene habits to help you avoid the harm of microplastics:
- Use natural toiletries. Choose toiletries without microplastic particles, such as toothpaste and facial cleanser made from natural ingredients. Pay attention to the ingredients list of products to avoid purchasing those containing microplastics.
- Clean your skin regularly. Take regular showers and wash your hands to keep your skin clean, especially after contact with items that may contain microplastics. Avoid touching your face and mouth directly with your hands to reduce the risk of microplastics entering the body through skin contact.
- Participate in waste classification and recycling. Classify and recycle plastic products to increase recycling rates. By participating in environmental protection activities, understand the hazards of microplastic pollution and solutions, and contribute to environmental protection efforts together.
Boiling Water vs. Bottled Water: Which One is Healthier?
Regarding the question of whether boiling water and drinking bottled water are healthier, there isn’t an absolute answer. It mainly depends on the local water quality and individual lifestyle habits.
Tap water usually meets national standards after purification by water plants.
Boiling water for drinking usually refers to using tap water boiled for consumption. Tap water is usually purified by water treatment plants and can generally meet the national “Hygienic Standard for Drinking Water.” Although sometimes people may worry about the presence of heavy metals, chlorine, and other harmful substances in tap water, in reality, as long as the water source is not severely polluted and the boiling time is sufficient, these harmful substances can be greatly reduced or even eliminated.
For example, minerals such as magnesium and calcium in tap water may form scale during heating, but these scales do not pose a direct threat to human health unless consumed in large amounts. Also, the chlorine content in tap water is usually within a safe range, and most of it will evaporate during boiling, so there is no need to worry about harm to the body. Boiling water for drinking is relatively economical, convenient, and usually safe if attention is paid to water quality and boiling methods.
Avoid long-term repeated boiling of tap water to prevent loss of minerals and increase in nitrite.
It is worth noting that if water is repeatedly boiled for a long time, minerals in the water will gradually be lost, and trace amounts of nitrite may be produced. Although nitrite has a certain vasodilatory effect on the body, excessive intake may cause vasodilation, leading to symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, and even poisoning. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid long-term repeated boiling of tap water and drink it in moderation.
Drinking bottled water for a long time may lead to nutritional imbalance.
If the local water quality is poor and contains excessive heavy metals or other pollutants, then drinking bottled water may be a safer choice. Bottled water is favored by many people for its convenience and safety. However, in recent years, health concerns about bottled water have also raised people’s attention.
In addition, bottled water usually does not contain the minerals needed by the human body. Long-term consumption may lead to nutritional imbalances and even problems such as rough skin. Therefore, even if bottled water is chosen, it is recommended to drink it in moderation and combine it with other dietary methods to ensure balanced nutrition.
Bottled water may be contaminated during production, storage, and transportation.
Firstly, during the production, storage, and transportation of bottled water, if not handled properly, it may be contaminated by bacteria and viruses, leading to problems such as oral infections and gastrointestinal damage. These bacterial contaminations may cause oral diseases such as angular cheilitis and oral ulcers, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. Therefore, choosing reputable brands and ensuring that bottled water is consumed within its shelf life are very important.
Furthermore, the presence of microplastic particles in bottled water is also a significant concern. According to a recent study published in the international academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), there are approximately 240,000 detectable plastic micro-particles per liter of bottled water on average. These microplastic particles may enter the human body through drinking water. Although the long-term effects of microplastics on human health are still under research, prolonged ingestion of microplastics may pose potential risks to human health.
