Micro-Plastics in Australia’s Drinking Water

July 19, 2023

Microplastics in drinking water

Australia is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich biodiversity, and pristine waters. However, beneath the surface of this natural beauty, an invisible threat lurks – microplastics in our drinking water. These minuscule plastic particles are infiltrating our water supply, potentially jeopardizing our health and the environment. In this blog post, we will delve into the issue of microplastics in Australian drinking water, exploring its sources, impact, and what we can do to mitigate this growing concern.

What Are Micro-Plastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimetres in size. They can be categorized into two main types: primary microplastics, which are intentionally manufactured at this size, and secondary microplastics, which result from the breakdown of larger plastic items like bottles, bags, and containers. These minuscule particles come in various forms, such as microbeads from personal care products, microfibers from synthetic clothing, and micro fragments from the weathering of plastic waste.

Sources of Microplastics in Australian Drinking Water

Microplastics in Australian drinking water originate from various sources. Some of the key contributors include:

Urban Runoff: Rainwater washes microplastics from roads and urban areas into stormwater drains, rivers, and lakes.
Wastewater Effluent: Microplastics from personal care products, detergents, and clothing fibres are released into wastewater during the treatment process and can find their way into natural water bodies.
Plastic Pollution: The gradual breakdown of plastic waste, such as bottles, bags, and packaging, contributes to microplastic pollution in the environment.
Airborne Microplastics: Recent studies have revealed that microplastics can also be transported through the air and deposited in water bodies, adding another dimension to the problem.

Impact on Health and Environment

Microplastics pose a significant threat to both human health and the environment. While the full extent of their impact is still being studied, some of the potential consequences include:

Human Health:

Ingestion: Microplastics can infiltrate drinking water sources, and humans may inadvertently consume them. There are concerns about the accumulation of these particles in the body, potentially leading to health issues. As It’s an evolving field, the Health effects of ingestion of MP’s are not directly found yet. However, there are studies showing MPs getting to the bloodstream, impacting enzymatic reactions, and also impacts from heavy metal adsorption onto MPs.
Chemical Contaminants: Microplastics can absorb and release harmful chemicals. When ingested, they may transfer these toxins into the human body.

Environmental Impact:

Marine Life: Aquatic organisms, from small plankton to larger marine creatures, ingest microplastics. This can disrupt ecosystems and even enter the food chain, affecting seafood consumers.
Water Quality: Microplastics can alter water quality, potentially causing issues for aquatic habitats and organisms.

Addressing the Issue

Addressing the issue of microplastics in Australian drinking water is a multi-faceted challenge. Here are some steps that can be taken to mitigate this problem:

Drink Filtered Water: Installing a water filtration system at home ensures invisible particles like plastics and other chemicals are removed from everyday consumption. Filters of various structures (filter by pore depth or pore width) and pore sizes are used to extract microplastics (<5 mm) in research. In the present study, we demonstrate that filters with different structures and pore sizes can lead to different outcomes in microplastic filtering. Our results showed that when filtering large-sized microplastics, the nylon filter (double-layer-hole type) retained nearly 100% of fibres, while the polycarbonate filter (single-layer-hole type) only retained 61.7%. The polycarbonate filter retained the most fragments (80.8%), while the cotton fibre filter (multilayer-hole type) retained the least (54.4%). Pellets were retained on different layers of nylon and cotton fiber filters, and could not be quantified accurately.
Additionally, the sizes of some fibres and fragments captured were not within the expected ranges by lattice-knitting filters. Large fibre (3568.0 μm) was not filtered out after 1000 μm pore-size filtration. A small fragment (37.2 μm) was found on 50 μm pore-size filters. To validate laboratory results, filed waters containing microplastics (∼90% in the form of fibres) were filtered through different pore-size filters. As expected, the relationship between abundance and pore size followed the same trend as that in laboratory fibre samples. Therefore, our results indicated that filter structure and pore size could affect the abundance of microplastics with different shapes. To obtain a more accurate abundance of microplastics in a wide size range, and to consider filtration duration, size limitation of observation, and spatial resolution of identification instrument, we recommend that water samples should be filtered using 20 μm pore-size filters with a double-layer-hole type of structure.
Reduce Plastic Consumption: Reducing the overall use of plastics, especially single-use plastics, can help prevent the entry of these materials into the environment.
Wastewater Treatment: Improving wastewater treatment processes to filter out microplastics before discharge into natural water bodies can significantly reduce contamination.
Product Regulation: Stricter regulations on the use of microplastics in personal care products and detergents can reduce the primary source of microplastic pollution.
Educate and Raise Awareness: Educating the public about the sources and impact of microplastics is crucial. Awareness campaigns can encourage responsible plastic use and disposal.
Research: Continued research into the extent of the problem and its impact on health and the environment will provide valuable insights for policymakers and the public.

Conclusion

Microplastics in Australian drinking water are a growing concern that necessitates immediate attention. With the stunning natural environment and unique ecosystems in Australia, protecting our water sources from microplastic contamination is vital for the health of both our environment and our people. By addressing the issue at its source, regulating the use of microplastics, and educating the public, we can work together to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all.