14 March 2018: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced plans to review the risk of plastic in drinking water following an analysis that found microplastics in bottled water. WHO plans to assess the state of knowledge on the potential health risks from the presence of plastics in drinking water.

Orb Media commissioned the State University of New York in Fredonia (US) to analyze 259 bottles of water from 11 different bottled water brands. Scientists sampled bottles bought in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Thailand and the US. The study found that only 17 out of the 259 bottles were free of plastics. Scientists reported that they found “roughly twice as many plastic particles within bottled water” compared to a previous study of plastics in tap water.

In response to the study’s findings, the WHO aims to review the evidence on plastics in drinking water and consider a more thorough risk assessment. [WHO Website] [Orb Media Report] [News Story on Plastics Study]