01/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/09/2024 12:51
International Bottled Water Association | News Release | January 8, 2024
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has had very limited notice and time to review this new study closely and therefore, we cannot provide a detailed response at this time.
This new study by Columbia University researchers Qian, et. al, used bottled water to apparently demonstrate a new method for nanoplastics analysis due to a lack of currently available methods. This new method needs to be fully reviewed by the scientific community and more research needs to be done to develop standardized methods for measuring and quantifying nanoplastics in our environment.
There currently is both a lack of standardized methods and no scientific consensus on the potential health impacts of nano- and microplastic particles. Therefore, media reports about these particles in drinking water do nothing more than unnecessarily scare consumers.
Nanoplastics has joined microplastics as a topic garnering a lot of attention from the media. While many of the studies on microplastics (and now nanoparticles) have mentioned bottled water, it is important to note that bottled water is just one of thousands of food and beverage products packaged in plastic containers. Moreover, and perhaps even more important, nano- and microplastic particles are found in all aspects of our environment - soil, air, and water. For more information about why researchers use water to explore testing methods, see the second cited research study below by Ossmann, B. E. (https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COFS.2021.02.011)
After reviewing the available studies concerning water, food, and beverages, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that no adverse health effects could be drawn from dietary exposure to nano- and microplastic particles less than 10 microns due to minimal scientific research. WHO's recommendation is for more research to be conducted, as well as establishing standardized methods for measuring and quantifying nano and microplastics. (Source: "Dietary and inhalation exposure to nano- and microplastic particles and potential implications for human health." Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/362049/9789240054608-eng.pdf.)
Because there is no scientific evidence to suggest that nano- and microplastic particles pose a health risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not issued any regulations concerning these substances in foods and beverages. Any regulatory action concerning nano- and microplastic particles would need to be based on sound science, including demonstrating a correlation between the levels of this substance found in foods and beverages and any potential adverse health effects.
Bottled water, as a packaged food product, is strictly and comprehensively regulated by FDA. All bottled water products are produced utilizing a multi-barrier approach. From source to finished product, a multi-barrier approach helps prevent possible harmful contamination to the finished product as well as storage, production, and transportation equipment. Many of the steps in a multi-barrier system are effective in safeguarding bottled water from microbiological and other contamination. Measures in a multi-barrier approach may include one or more of the following: source protection, source monitoring, reverse osmosis, distillation, micro-filtration, carbon filtration, ozonation, and ultraviolet (UV) light.
As always, the bottled water industry is committed to providing consumers with the safest and highest quality products and we are following any scientific developments on this subject closely.
Background Studies
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Media contact:
Jill Culora
IBWA Vice President of Communications
[email protected]
703-647-4609