Boiling tap water can remove nearly 90% of microplastics, new study finds
Boiling tap water before drinking it can remove at least 90% of potentially harmful micro plastic s, a new study has found. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris measuring less than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) long, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) . These broken-down remnants of industrial waste and consumer goods are impossible to avoid: they are found across the ocean and atmosphere, inside bottled water and even in human poop . Studies into how microplastics impact human health are still scant and inconclusive , according to the World Health Organization. So far, some plastics are thought to be harmless, whereas others, such as polystyrene, have been shown to kill human cells , cause bowel inflammation and reduce fertility in mice. In a new study, published Feb. 28 in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, scientists looked into practical home methods to remove the tiny plastics from drinking water. One ...