How technology is tackling microplastics in bottled water [Video]

AUSTIN (KXAN) — You may want to think twice before taking a sip from a bottle of water. A recent study found that nanoplastics, small flecks of plastic a thousand times smaller than a human hair, are likely floating around in your drink.

The study was published in January in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers from Columbia University looked at the three most popular brands of water sold in the United States and found that the bottles contained on average 240,000 plastic particles. 90% of these are considered nanoplastics.

“We’re talking about one micron or micrometer to one nanometer,” said Zhanfei Liu, Ph.D. with the University of Texas’ Marine Science Institute.

According to Liu, consuming nanoplastics and microplastics, a larger form of degraded plastic, has caused trouble for wildlife in our oceans.

“The animal may feel full but they are not. They can starve to death because there are no nutrients,” Liu said.

Nano and microplastics can also host bacteria, which …