Microplastics in drinking-water
World Health Organization (2019). WHO report (ISBN 9789241516198).
What they found
WHO's first review concluded there was no reliable information suggesting an overt health concern from microplastics in drinking water at current levels, while stressing this does not mean they are harmless. Particles over 150 µm are likely excreted, and uptake of smaller ones is expected to be limited (around 0.3% or less).
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Superseded in scope by WHO's 2022 report on dietary and inhalation exposure, which reached a similar 'insufficient data' conclusion.
- What it can't tell you
- Based on limited, low-quality occurrence data from before 2019, with little data on nanoplastics. Predates most human tissue studies. Covers drinking water only, not food or air.
- Funding
- World Health Organization
- Topics
- Health effects, Drinking water
- Checked against
- Full text PDF (WHO IRIS): chapter 3 conclusions and uptake section; publication date 21 August 2019