Contamination in Water No Longer Limited to Sewage: The Spike of Harmful Microchemicals in Potable Water Reservoirs
Microplastics and microcontaminants have become a growing concern in the global water supply. These tiny particles and chemical substances are found in everyday products like detergents, pesticides, plastics, and medications, and have been detected in drinking water sources worldwide.
High levels of microplastics have been found in Lake Ontario in Canada and Vembanad Lake in India, posing a threat to nearby ecosystems and communities. Microplastics are increasingly contaminating drinking water globally, with concentrations ranging approximately from 24 to 56 microplastic particles (MPs) per liter in both tap and bottled water. Studies also reveal contamination in refillable water containers, emphasizing the role of handling and storage practices in contamination levels.
Microplastics are not only physically contaminating water but also serving as vectors for thousands of potentially hazardous chemical additives. Plastics contain over 4,000 chemical substances, many of which can be endocrine disruptors or toxic and may leach into the water, posing health risks.
Research points out that microplastics contaminate other beverages like hot tea and coffee even more heavily, indicating that exposure through liquids is broader than just drinking water.
The presence of microplastics in drinking water is concerning not only because of the particles themselves but also due to the associated chemical pollutants embedded in plastics. The health risks associated with these pollutants include cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, developmental issues, and neurological disorders, among others.
Microcontaminants bioaccumulate in the food chain, with fish in Lake Michigan and the Ganga River Basin in India found to have pharmaceuticals and microplastics in their tissue. This highlights the need for better monitoring, improved water treatment, and reduction of plastic pollution to address this growing issue effectively.
The microcontaminant crisis requires a new definition of water safety, accounting for microcontaminants, biological disruptions, and intergenerational health impacts. In 2024, the European Union added medicines and PFAS to its Water Framework Directive's priority watchlist.
Most water treatment technologies to remove microcontaminants remain prohibitively expensive, particularly in the Global South. In India, over 70% of wastewater plants cannot treat advanced pollutants like microcontaminants.
The Cape Fear River in North Carolina experienced a health emergency from excessive PFAS concentrations, and risky PFAS levels have been found in Ghaziabad and Gurugram, India. PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are resistant to degradation and present in everything from non-stick cookware to fast food packaging.
Continuous exposure to microcontaminants can lead to neurological disorders, metabolic problems, and immune dysfunctions. Microplastics can contribute to organ inflammation, hormonal disruption, and possible DNA damage. Most water treatment plants worldwide are unequipped to detect and remove microcontaminants like PFAS.
Initiatives such as the Plastic Soup Foundation (Netherlands) and Tap Score (USA) are enabling people to test and report water quality themselves. In India, the Jal Jeevan Mission initiated pilot testing for PFAS and microplastics in rural water supplies in 2025.
The appearance of feminized fish in British rivers is a warning sign of the effects of estrogenic chemicals in contraceptive tablets on aquatic ecosystems. A global investigation revealed pharmaceutical traces in more than 258 rivers in 104 nations in 2022.
Researchers have detected 180 times more PFAS in birds than before, and PFAS are officially acknowledged by the EPA as carcinogenic, associated with immune disorders, developmental delays, and thyroid diseases.
Long-term, low-level exposure to microcontaminants is still being studied, but early evidence is deeply concerning. Advanced processes like ozonation, activated carbon filtration, or nanotechnology are needed but are not yet widely implemented.
In summary, the presence of microplastics and microcontaminants in drinking water is a global issue that requires immediate attention. Efforts to address this crisis include better monitoring, improved water treatment, and reduction of plastic pollution. Initiatives like the EU's aim to limit plastic pollution and microplastic releases by 30% by 2030. However, the high cost of treatment technologies, particularly in the Global South, remains a significant challenge.
- Escalating concerns about microplastics and microcontaminants emphasize the need for enhanced reporting and research in the science of environmental and health-and-wellness, focusing on the impact on water sources worldwide.
- The growth of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives could have a significant role in funding courses and projects aimed at addressing these issues and promoting sustainability.
- Green initiatives and legislation, such as the European Union's Water Framework Directive and initiatives like the Plastic Soup Foundation and Tap Score, are essential for encouraging better monitoring, improved water treatment, and reduced plastic pollution.
- As more studies reveal the harmful effects of microcontaminants on aquatic life, like the appearance of feminized fish in British rivers, it's crucial to consider environmental-science research that explores the long-term implications of these pollutants on ecosystems and medical-conditions in humans.
- Developing and implementing advanced water treatment technologies, like ozonation, activated carbon filtration, and nanotechnology, can play a significant role in effectively removing microcontaminants in both developed and developing regions, such as the Global South, where 70% of wastewater plants lack the capacity to address these pollutants.
- In the long run, addressing the microcontaminant crisis and minimizing exposure risks related to microplastics will require a holistic approach to water safety, considering biological disruptions and intergenerational health impacts, as well as the promotion of sustainability in all aspects of consumer products and everyday practices.
