Bottled water has 'up to 100 times' more bits of plastic than previously feared

Sources of Plastic in Bottled / Filtered Water

• Several commenters highlight that the study found most particles were from polyamide RO membranes, not PET bottles themselves.
• This shifts concern from “bottles are shedding” to “filtration systems are shedding,” especially reverse osmosis (RO).
• People note this undercuts assumptions that buying “filtered” or “premium” bottled water is inherently safer.

Containers and Materials (Plastic, Metal, Glass, Cork)

• Stainless steel (especially high-grade CrNiMo) is praised as inert and non-leaching for most drinks.
• Aluminum bottles are criticized: usually plastic-lined, with coatings that can flake; bare aluminum can dissolve and is viewed as undesirable.
• Glass is seen as chemically inert and good for storage, but breakage risk and plastic/chemical seals are noted.
• Cork is described as “natural but problematic”: potential carcinogenic plant compounds and higher microbiological risk compared with metal/plastic closures.
• Cans are lined with plastic resins (often BPA-based), so not a clear win over bottles.

Tap vs Bottled: Trade-offs and Local Conditions

• Some are “amazed” anyone drinks bottled water where tap is safe; others report brown water, chlorine taste, lead or copper plumbing, farm/medicine residues, or poorly managed utilities.
• In many places bottled water is cheap enough that it beats installing and maintaining certified heavy-metal filters.
• People frame it as “choosing your poison” amid incomplete information.

Home Filtration, RO, and Alternatives

• Widespread use of RO at home and in stores (e.g., refill stations) is reported; cost analyses often favor home RO over buying jugs.
• The study’s link between polyamide RO membranes and nanoplastics alarms some RO users; others still strongly prefer RO to questionable tap sources.
• Brita-style carbon filters are seen as mainly addressing taste (chlorine) and not “the really nasty stuff.”
• Ceramic and carbon gravity filters (e.g., Berkey-type) are suggested but criticized for lacking certain third‑party certifications.
• Distillation plus re‑adding minerals is proposed; others say it’s too costly or consumer distillers are poorly designed.

Taste, Perception, and Behavior

• Many insist there is a clear taste difference between tap, bottled, RO, and different brands; others cite blind tests and TV stunts showing people often can’t tell.
• Some note context and smell strongly affect perceived taste.
• Several admit continuing bottled-water habits even after evidence they can’t reliably distinguish it from tap.

Health Risks, Skepticism, and Risk Comparison

• One camp is highly concerned about ingesting any plastic, especially for children, and wants to minimize exposure despite uncertainty.
• Another camp argues food-grade plastics like PET/PE/nylon are largely inert, not water‑soluble, unlikely to cross the gut in meaningful amounts, and that evidence of actual harm is weak or absent.
• Some compare nanoplastics to bigger, better‑quantified risks (alcohol, bad diet, dangerous driving) and caution against panic.
• Others respond that lack of definitive proof of harm is not reassurance, citing past “safe” exposures (e.g., lead, cigarettes) later shown to be dangerous.

Regulation, Bans, and Systemic Issues

• A town’s ban on single-use plastic bottles led to water in cans, but commenters note internal plastic linings and filtration-derived plastics mean this doesn’t eliminate microplastics.
• Broader concerns arise that microplastics likely permeate many processed beverages and foods made with filtered water.