Researchers tested 250 bottles of water in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Thailand, and the United States.
"Widespread contamination" with plastic was found in the study, led by microplastic researcher Sherri Mason of the State University of New York at Fredonia, according to a summary released by Orb Media, a US-based non-profit media collective.
Researchers tested 250 bottles of water in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Thailand, and the United States.
"I think it is coming through the process of bottling the water.
On average, plastic particles in the 100 micron (0.10 millimeter) size range — considered "microplastics," — were found at an average rate of 10.4 plastic particles per liter.
Even smaller particles were more common — averaging about 325 per liter.
Other brands that were found to contain plastic contaminated included Bisleri, Epura, Gerolsteiner, Minalba and Wahaha.
"We know that they are connected to these synthetic chemicals in the environment and we know that plastics are providing kind of a means to get those chemicals into our bodies."
– Previous research by Orb Media has found plastic particles in tap water, too, but on a smaller scale.
"It’s more urgent now than ever before to make plastic water bottles a thing of the past."

One of the more remarkable aspects of the success of David Attenborough’s recent Blue Planet II series was the way it managed to highlight the catastrophic effect of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
Assistant producer on the show Sarah Conner told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat: “There would rarely be a dive where I wouldn’t find some form of plastic from a thread of plastic fishing line, sweet wrappers or plastic bottles.” According to Greenpeace, 12.7 million tons of plastic ends up in our oceans each year and some organisations claim that, with about 165 million tons already in the seas, by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish.
Which is why it was heartening to read in last week’s Western Mail of a number of traders in Newport launching a free water refilling scheme to counter our throwaway culture.
As Joshua Knapman wrote, shops and restaurants in the town with a “Refill” scheme sticker on display will permit customers (and non-customers, too) to refill their water containers from the businesses’ taps.
The connotations of immortality are never far away from a brand which suggests its product’s “naturally pure and mineral-balanced water supports your body’s youth”.
As content marketing expert Kathryn Hawkins has pointed out, bottled water is not sold as an alternative to tap water, but as an alternative to fizzy drinks.
Hawkins highlights the Nestle Pure Life campaign, which attempted to persuade mothers to replace one sugary drink each day with the company’s water products.
The truth is, in the UK as in the US, public tap water is of outstanding quality.
Isklar Norwegian mineral water advertising campaigns have emphasised it’s icy, pristine ‘pure glacier’ quality, while the UK’s Highland Spring boasts that bottling water products from natural sources is all and everything we do.
The packaging and marketing may suggest the beauty of the natural world, but the reality of the production and distribution of bottled water means there are severe ecological consequences.

A Vanuatu bottled water company is leading a project to clean up plastic litter in a part of the main island Efate.
Photo: Len Garae / Vanuatu Daily Post Vanuatu Beverage is partnering with two other local companies – toilet paper and plastics manufacturer Cellovila, and theatre company Wan Smol Bag – to clean up Mele Village and beach front.
Mele Village, which is located six kilometres outside Port Vila, has a population of around 7000 people, and one of the longest beaches in the country.
The companies have conducted similar clean-up efforts in two Vila suburbs, Tebakor and Malapoa.
Vanuatu Beverage’s Business Development Manager Teiva Durand said the cleanup initiative was the first of many more.
He said he hoped it would raise awareness of the importance of countering littering in Vanuatu.
He said Vanuatu Beverage is separating plastic bottles from other waste and storing them until a relevant plastic bottle strategy is put in place.

With such a media spotlight on sustainability, Zenith’s 2018 UK Bottled Water Conference on 15 March in London will open with a breakfast briefing on finding more sustainable packaging solutions.
The session features compliance experts Ecosurety, environmental charity Hubbub and leading retailer Marks & Spencer, with moderation by The Packaging Collective.
Taking up the challenge of "Inspiring consumers to value packaging and encourage recycling while on the go", the session will bring together industry members to discuss consumer concerns, focus on areas of opportunity and create a positive way forward for brand owners, suppliers and retailers.
The briefing will review the latest recycling initiatives, including reverse vending and deposit schemes, as well as offering case studies illustrating the importance of producer responsibility in building consumer awareness on effective packaging waste management.
Other highlights at the conference include an overview of latest market developments from Zenith, analysis of consumer and retailer expectations from Kantar and Bridgethorne, and an international keynote address by US leader Niagara Executive Vice President Rali Sanderson.
The afternoon will look at industry policy issues, with contributions from Association of Convenience Stores, British Retail Consortium, Coca-Cola, Co-op and RECOUP.
Nichols and Ugly Drinks will focus on how innovation is evolving and the day will conclude with an entrepreneur shootout involving start-ups Dash Water, JUST Water and Vievė.
New this year is a "Chiller Corner", providing dedicated space for registered delegates on a first come first served basis to showcase their new bottled water products.
The event coincides with the launch of Zenith’s 2018 UK Bottled Water Report with statistics from 2011 through to 2021 forecasts, including packaging, distribution and water types.
The report will also include company and brand volume sales at both full market and segment level, an assessment of challenges and future market trends, and detailed profiles of the leading companies.

MT.
PLEASANT — Wasatch Academy (WA) Sustainability Committee, made up of students and faculty, recently joined the growing movement to reduce the huge amount of waste caused by plastic bottles.
The “Ban the Bottle” campaign has since become a high priority for the committee.
Plastic pollution is one of the most significant burdens to the environment.
Believe it or not, enough plastic is discarded every year to circle the globe four times.
Even worse, it is estimated that 50 percent of the plastic on this planet is used only once before being thrown away.
Wasatch Academy currently provides bottled water for campus events in a number of settings.
It is the committee’s goal for the school to be a “plastic water bottle free school” by Sept. 1.
Committee members and the Development Office have set a goal to raise $24,500.
Funds raised through this campaign will be used to purchase and install 15 rapid bottle filling stations and provide every member of the school community a Wasatch Academy logo bottle.

Even plastic waste that has been collected for recycling can find its way into the environment, says the Commission.
Currently, there is no clear incentive for consumers and producers to switch to solutions that would generate less waste or litter.
It says that additional measures at EU and national levels can be developed to reduce unnecessary generation of plastic waste, especially waste from single-use items or over-packaging, and to encourage the reuse of packaging.
What the EU calls “extended producer responsibility schemes” at national level can also help curb plastic litter.
Awareness campaigns, measures to prevent littering and projects to clean up beaches can, the Commission believes, be set up by public authorities and receive support from EU funds, for instance through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).
These and other possible ways of cutting the use of plastics, and encouraging plastics recycling, were recently unveiled in the Commission’s plastics strategy which has generated a generally favourable response.
BusinessEurope, the Brussels-based organisation that represents Europe’s business community at EU level, describes the strategy as “an important step forward in the circular economy action plan.” The strategy settles an ambitious target – by 2030, all plastics packaging placed on the EU market should be reusable or recyclable in a cost-effective manner.
More than half of plastics waste in general should be recyclable by 2030 while today it is less than 30 per cent.
BusinessEurope Director General Markus Beyrer told this website, “European industry is fully committed to shifting to a more circular Europe, but the circular economy needs to make business sense.
“We welcome the plastics strategy, which is relatively balanced between environmental and economic considerations, and the intention to look for voluntary pledges to boost recycled plastics rather than immediately jump to regulatory actions.” He went on, “We agree that any new EU measures should be in line with the better regulation principles, and that an impact assessment should be carried out when measures are likely to have a significant socio-economic impact.” But, Beyrer cautioned, “However, we would like to see more clarity on the potential EU-wide fiscal measures as well as the proposed private-led fund for financing investments for innovations and technologies.” He added, “We support the Commission’s intention to first enter into a dialogue with stakeholders on these matters.” Stakeholders have until 12 February to the ongoing public consultation on the strategy which was unveiled in Strasbourg on 16 January.

Deposit return schemes (DRS) and reverse vending solutions for plastic bottles will be two of the hot topics at this year’s UK Bottled Water Conference, which takes place in London on 15 March.
A special breakfast briefing session at the event will feature a round-table discussion on how to reduce littering and promote recycling, while speakers later in the day will include James Lowman, chief executive at the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), and Alice Ellison, head of environment at the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Further sessions will review some of the latest market developments and innovations, with representatives from Coca-Cola and the Co-op among the panelists.
Richard Hall, chairman of conference organiser Zenith, said: “Ten years ago, the bottled water sector faced a number of challenges, from economic slowdown to growing awareness about environmental impact.
“While these pressures remain, bottled water’s responsiveness, healthiness and innovation have become a driving force for market growth.
Volumes are surpassing previous expectations, with flavour and functionality becoming ever more popular.” Full programme details and online booking are available at www.zenithglobal.com/events

which are used in the electronics and automotive industries.
Governments are encouraging the use of biodegradable polymers over conventional polymers so as to reduce carbon footprint.
Some major automotive companies are now opting for biopolymers in their vehicles; for instance, the Ford Motor Company is using biopolymers for interior applications.
Changing political conditions and environmental regulations on carbon emissions and plastic usage are also forecasted to boost the global biopolymers market over the forecast period.
Despite being a niche market, the biopolymers market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.
Thus biopolymer production can prove to be a sustainable alternative in waste management.
Owing to these advantages, there is a mushrooming interest in biopolymer manufacturing which will consequently drive the growth of the global biopolymers market over the forecast period.
This could manifest as a major challenge for the global biopolymers market during the forecast period.
This region is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.
This is mainly attributed to rapid industrialization and the need to curb pollution from manmade plastics and synthetic polymers in these regions.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minneapolis ordinance banning plastic carryout bags will not take effect as previously planned June 1 due to a statute passed by the Minnesota State Legislature prohibiting cities from imposing any ban on the use of bags. Enforcement will not begin on the new ordinance while the city explores potential amendments to address the remainder consistent with new state law, recently signed by Gov. Mark Dayton: All merchants, itinerant vendors, and peddlers doing business in this state shall have the option to provide customers a paper, plastic, or reusable bag for the packaging of any item or good purchased, provided such purchase is of a size and manner commensurate with the use of paper, plastic, or reusable bags. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no…

Effort to ban plastic water bottles in national parks would end under budget deal.
At the behest of the International Bottled Water Association, Congress is preparing to approve a must-pass budget bill that includes language aimed at restoring the sale of water in disposable plastic bottles in all national parks.
For nearly six years, national parks have had the option of banning bottled-water sales as a way to reduce plastic litter and waste management costs.
From Cape Hatteras to the Grand Canyon, more than 20 park units have instituted the ban after first installing public drinking-water stations for visitors carrying reusable bottles.
For the last three years, the bottled-water industry has lobbied Congress to help overturn the ban.
In 2015, Congress added a rider to a budget bill instructing the National Park Service not to expend any federal funds on the bottled-water ban.
Last year, Congress ordered the National Park Service to produce a report justifying why some parks had continued with the ban.
She and other advocates argue that many hikers and other visitors to national parks won’t opt for sodas if they can easily fill up containers – for free – from water stations.
In 2016, Calvert was a top recipient of campaign contributions from the bottled water industry, receiving $10,000, and those donations became an issue in his re-election campaign.
Calvert couldn’t be reached immediately for comment, but during his campaign last year he said his legislative action stemmed from “concerns with the park service policy that allows the sale of bottled soft drinks but bans the sale of bottled water.”