Did you know that you may have been drinking microplastics without your knowledge?

According to a study by the water industry, raw, untreated water contains an average of 4.9 microplastics per litre. Microplastics are in our waters because of the sheer amount of plastic we use in our daily lives. Plastic gets into our water system in ways you can’t even imagine. Read on to learn what microplastics are and how you can protect yourself and your family from drinking them.

What is microplastic?

Currently, there is no scientifically accepted definition of microplastic, but it is most commonly described as plastic particles less than 5 mm in length. These plastic particles can be found in fresh water and even in drinking water that has not been properly treated.

How do plastics get into drinking water?

You would be surprised how many everyday objects contain plastics. Plastic bottles and caps are the main source of microplastics in drinking water. But plastics are also hidden in the clothes you wear, the detergent you use and even in tea bags. When they break down, they enter waterways as tiny polymers and pollute your water. Remember that every time you wear out your shoes, wash your clothes or even exfoliate, you are creating microplastics. So imagine how much microplastic factories and big companies produce every day.

The role of plastic bottles in water pollution

In 2018, the bottled water market produced 1 million bottles per minute. As you can imagine, this number rose sharply during the global pandemic as people preferred disposable products in case they were at risk of infection. And of all these bottles, 86% are not recycled. This is why our oceans and drinking water are swimming in microplastics.

How does microplastic harm me and my family?

There are three types of hazards you need to watch out for – physical, chemical and microbial. Without your knowledge, you could be ingesting physical plastic polymers, harmful chemicals and maybe even microbes. Since microplastics in drinking water are a relatively new phenomenon, there is no study yet on the long-term effects of consuming polluted water. However, it is safe to assume that it is dangerous and that we should all be more careful with the water we consume.

How do I protect my family from eating microplastics?

1. Throw away the plastic bottle

Say no to disposable plastic bottles and treat yourself to a beautiful reusable bottle that suits your style and personality. Not only will you help reduce plastic pollution in water, but you will also control the quality of the water you drink. For us, it’s a win-win situation.

2. Use HomePure to get rid of microplastics

Since its introduction in 2010, HomePure has helped reduce plastic bottle consumption by three billion! However, HomePure is more than just environmentally conscious. HomePure products help you remove microplastics and other emerging pollutants that threaten your family’s health. For example, the HomePure Nova’s unique 9-stage water filtration system filters 99.99% of bacteria and viruses, chemicals and toxins from tap water.

3. wash your fruit and vegetables in filtered water

To make sure you don’t eat or drink microplastics unintentionally, wash your fruit and vegetables with filtered water from HomePure for extra protection. Use filtered water not only for cooking and your drinks, but also for washing.

Microplastics are a reality, even if we don’t yet know what long-term effects they have on your health. Even if you are assured that you have not ingested microplastics, it is better to be safe than sorry. So be careful with what you and your loved ones drink. Make the HomePure Nova water filter or Viva water ioniser an essential part of your home and protect your loved ones.