Do microplastics in drinking water threaten health?
With plastic pollution having emerged as a significant environment and health crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for more research into the potential effect on human health of microplastics in drinking water.
“We urgently need to know more about the health impact of microplastics because they are everywhere - including in our drinking-water,” says Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health, at WHO. “Based on the limited information we have, microplastics in drinking water don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels. But we need to find out more. We also need to stop the rise in plastic pollution worldwide.”