Are bottled drinks shedding more microplastic than tap water?

What's actually in it

Bottled drinks aren't just holding your water or soda. They are actively shedding microplastics and nanoplastics directly into the liquid you consume. These particles come from the degradation of the plastic bottle itself, often made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

Unlike tap water, which may contain contaminants from supply systems, bottled drinks introduce a constant stream of plastic particles that break off from the container walls. This process is accelerated by how you store and handle your bottles, according to a 2026 study in Water Res.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Water Res confirms that the everyday storage and handling of PET bottled water directly increases human exposure to both nano- and microplastics. The physical stress placed on these bottles during transport and storage causes them to shed more particles into your drink.

This is a systemic issue. While a 2026 study in Water Res notes that microplastics have also hacked our public water supply systems, bottled options provide a concentrated dose of plastic debris. A 2026 study in Sci Total Environ highlights that this release of plastic particles from bottled drinks poses specific health hazards that we are only beginning to fully understand through peer-reviewed research.