Reduce Microplastics In Your Drinking Water

Microplastics are everywhere.

The microscopic pieces of plastic are so tiny you do not notice them in the air you breathe and the food you eat. You will not see them flowing from your kitchen faucet or taste them in a bottle of purified water.

They may be invisible, but they are all around you, outside and inside your Acton, Groton, Littleton home. Researchers have found microplastics in the air, water, oceans, seafood, vegetables and fruits, tea, colons, lung tissue, and feces. A 2022 study identified microplastics in human blood.

Installing the appropriate water treatment system will screen out microplastics from your MA tap water. At Basnett Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we can recommend a filter to stop particles at your main water supply line or the kitchen tap.

No single strategy will remove all microplastics from your home because they are so pervasive in the environment, but filtering your drinking water is a step in the right direction.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles ranging from five millimeters to 100 nanometers in size. A human hair is approximately 100,000 nanometers wide. Microplastics measuring less than 100 nanometers are called nanoplastics.

Microplastics range in size, shape, and density and contain various chemicals, such as flame retardants and pigments. Manufacturers make microplastics for use in paints, cosmetics, and health products. Tiny plastic beads added to exfoliating face creams and some toothpaste are examples of this “primary” microplastics category.

Plastics do not decompose the way organic materials do. Discarded plastics pollute rivers, lakes, and oceans, fill garbage dumps and litter the environment if not recycled. Secondary microplastics are small pieces that break off plastic items such as water bottles, plastic bags, single-use cups, and straws.

Clothing made of polyester, spandex, acrylic, and other synthetic materials can shed secondary microplastic fibers that become airborne in your Acton, Groton, Littleton home or wash off in the laundry.

Microplastics In Drinking Water 

Wastewater, surface runoff, and sewer overflow after a flood are a few ways microplastics can enter the water supply.

A 2019 study by the University of Newcastle in Australia for the World Wide Fund For Nature suggests that individuals ingest approximately 2,000 tiny plastic pieces—about five grams equal to the weight of a credit card—every week. Most of the plastic is in tap water and bottled water.

Do Microplastics Harm Your Health?

More research is needed to pinpoint how microplastics affect the human body. However, some chemicals used in making plastics are considered health hazards.

For example, bisphenol A (BPA), found in plastic packaging and household products, can affect children’s brains and behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic. The chemical also is linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and increased blood pressure.

Reducing Microplastics

Implement a strategy to lessen the impact of microplastics in your Acton, Groton, Littleton home. Avoid using single-use plastic items such as cups, straws, and bags. Recycle plastic packaging and use a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water. Consider wearing clothing made of organic fibers.

A water treatment system can significantly reduce the number of microplastics in your tap water. Our experts at Basnett Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can recommend a filter with pores small enough to screen out particles.

Reverse osmosis is another effective option. A reverse osmosis system purifies your drinking water by screening out microplastics and other contaminants at the tap. The system connects to plumbing from under the sink or on a countertop and uses a membrane with pores as small as 0.0001 microns to filter contaminants.

A home water distiller can remove microplastics and other contaminants by turning boiling water into steam and back into liquid, leaving plastic particles behind in the boiling process. Ask our pros if a distiller is your best option.

Protect Your Drinking Water Today

Safeguard your drinking water in Acton, Groton, Littleton, MA, from microplastics and other contaminants with a water treatment system. At Basnett Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we offer plumbing and water purification solutions to suit your lifestyle and budget. Call us at (978) 431-0899 or request service online.