A single bottle of water can contain dozens — or even thousands — of tiny plastic particles, according to a news story that’s prompted the World Health Organization to launch its own review.
Tests on more than 250 bottles showed almost all had contamination from microplastic particles that included polypropylene, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), according to a story in Orb, a nonprofit journalism organization.
In all, scientists working with the publication found plastic in 93 percent of the samples.
A microplastic is generally defined as particles less than the size of a sesame seed, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Orb tested 11 popular name brands, including Nestle Pure Life, Aquafina, Evian and Dasani.
Plastics — which can come from a range of items — are the most prevalent type of debris found in the oceans and Great Lakes in the U.S., NOAA said.
Orb conducted the tests with the State University of New York for plastic particles in the .10 millimeter size range — or particles about the size of a hair.
The tests, using an infrared microscope, showed a global average of 10.4 plastic particles per liter.
Nestle Pure Life had the highest maximum number of particles per liter at more than 10,000.
The company said its tests showed between zero and five plastic particles per liter.