Study finds plastics in bottled water from Mum, 2 other cities

Companies Say Strict Quality Control Ensured

Mumbai: A study by scientists from the State University of New York has found that more than 90 per cent of bottled water worldwide, including India, contains tiny pieces of plastic.

The researchers tested 259 individual bottles across 11 brands sold in nine countries including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and the US. Samples in India were drawn from 19 locations in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. Top global brands including Aquafina, Evian as well as the Indian brand Bisleri were tested. A Bisleri sample from Chennai showed over 5,000 microplastic particles per litre, according to the research team’s data.

Although bottling companies reacted to the study saying they enforce strict quality control, the findings indicating presence of carcinogenic substance in the water raise concerns about the long-term implications for public health.

Polypropylene, used to make plastic bottle caps, was the most common polymeric material (54%) found in the samples while nylon was the second most abundant (16%). After accounting for possible laboratory contamination, 93% of bottled water showed some presence of microplastics. Researchers found an average of 10.4 microplastic particles per litre of bottled water using spectroscopic analysis. This is twice as much as what was found in a previous study on tap water by the same team. The data indicated the contamination is at least partially coming from the packaging or bottling process.

Densities of microplastic contamination varied from zero contamination to one bottle with an excess of 10,000 microplastic particles per litre.

Packaged drinking water is a loosely regulated industry in India with hundreds of big and small brands vying for a share of the metro and small town market. Bottling units are regulated by state and central agencies in India including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA officials were not available for comment on Thursday on the study despite repeated attempts.

The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) is instrumental in checking water bottle samples for ‘quality of plastic and related contamination inside the bottle’ on behalf of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Officials with the IIP lab in Mumbai said preventive action is taken by the BIS only if residual monomers, heavy metals or residual (chemical) catalysts are found beyond acceptable limits. However, such cases are rare, they said.Among leading companies, PepsiCo India contested the study’s findings saying, “Aquafina maintains rigorous quality control measures, sanitary manufacturing practices, filtration and other food safety mechanisms which yield a reliably safe product for enjoyment anywhere in the world. The science of microplastics and microfibers is in its infancy. Microplastic particles are found across our environment, including soil, air and water.”

The study specifically mentions the batch number and location of purchase for all the 27 lots of samples containing 259 bottles tested. Only 17 individual bottles “showed no microplastic contamination in excess of possible laboratory background,” said the study.

Chemicals found in plastic bottles are also known to have affected newborn children. A 2013 study by Dr Arbinder Singal, a paediatric urologist with MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai, found a growing incidence of genital abnormality among newborn boys due to increasing exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals found in plastic bottles, food wraps, cosmetics and toys. The study noticed a 200% rise in the incidence of undescended testicles.

The bottled water industry faced tough questions earlier when studies indicated high pesticide residue in the water. This resulted in a crackdown and more scrutiny on the processes. The distinction between “natural mineral water” and “bottled water” also came in through awareness campaigns and consumer activism which questioned the widespread use of the term “mineral water” for packaged water which had not been fortified with minerals. Most companies then switched to describing their product as “bottled water”.

‘Any kind of plastic is alien, so it could be harmful’

Mumbai: Traces of microplastics in bottled water could have impacts on human health, say experts. They, however, feel that a lot of research needs to be done to understand the health implications and draw guidelines.

Uday Annapure, head of the department of food engineering and technology at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, said, “While there are a lot of microorganisms in the air, our bodies learn to deal with them. However, any kind of plastic is alien and deposition over time in the intestines could be harmful but more study needs to be done." He added that an important aspect to take this further would be to study the people working in the industry since they would be exposed to these micro particles.

According to Dr Altaf Patel, director of medicine at Jaslok hospital, plastics when leached in to water could have carcinogenic effects. “Most bottled water brands don’t disclose the bacterial, particulate matter or toxic content,” he said.

Dr Shahid Barmare, consultant physician at Kohinoor Hospital, said, "People often come to us with concern if they should use plastic containers for food and water. Plastic leaching is known to have an impact especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. So if at all people need to use it, we suggest that they constantly keep changing it and not use it for storing food for children..”

Similarly, Dr Kiran Coelho, a gynecologist, said, “While there are no concrete studies linking storing food in plastic containers to problems during pregnancy or congenital birth defects, we advice against its use." TNN