Recently, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States published an astonishing study, revealing that each liter of bottled water contains an average of about 240,000 detectable plastic particles. These nano-sized plastic particles can enter our intestinal or lung cells, then pass through the blood, reach the heart and brain, and even for pregnant women, they can cross the placenta and enter the fetus.

So, in the face of such pollution, how can we ensure the safety of our drinking water? Can boiling water effectively reduce the content of microplastics? Liu Xiaochuan, director of the Department of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases of the General Emergency Hospital and chief physician, reveals to you how to reduce the content of microplastics by boiling water, making your drinking water safer.

Boiling water is a simple and effective way to reduce the content of microplastics

The shocking results of recent studies on microplastics in bottled water have forced us to re-examine our drinking habits. For most families, boiling water is a simple and effective way to sterilize.

As for microplastics, boiling water can indeed reduce their content to a certain extent. When water is boiled, microplastic particles will combine with calcium carbonate in the water to form precipitates. By simple filtration, we can remove up to 84% of microplastics. Therefore, boiling water before drinking is indeed an effective way to reduce the intake of microplastics.

When water is heated to boiling, microplastic particles will separate from other substances in the water due to differences in density and size, and some will settle to the bottom of the water. Therefore, after boiling the water, if conditions permit, we can use filters or gauze for simple filtration to further reduce the microplastic particles in the water.

Microplastics "lurk" in life. Have you got these "self-defense skills"?

To ensure drinking water safety, you need to do these four things

1. Choose good quality bottled water: When buying bottled water, pay attention to the product label and certification information, and choose a brand with quality assurance. Avoid buying bottled water of unknown origin or too low price.

2. Replace kettles and cups regularly: Even high-quality kettles and cups may wear out after long-term use, resulting in the production of microplastics. It is recommended to replace it regularly and keep it clean.

3. Install a household water purifier: Installing a household water purifier can effectively remove impurities and microplastic particles in the water and provide safer drinking water.

4. Use a stainless steel or glass kettle: It is safer to boil water because these materials are not easy to release microplastic particles.

Therefore, we should try to avoid using plastic kettles, especially at high temperatures, the chemicals in plastics may accelerate decomposition and increase the risk of microplastics.

These common scenes in life can effectively avoid microplastics with a little change

Use reusable shopping bags: When shopping, choose reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags, which is both environmentally friendly and fashionable.

Reduce the intake of takeout and fast food: Takeout and fast food packaging often contain a lot of plastic, which may not only produce microplastics, but also contain other harmful substances. Try to cook by yourself, which is both healthy and environmentally friendly.

Pay attention to food packaging: When buying food, pay attention to check whether the packaging is complete and avoid buying damaged or deformed packaged food.

Develop these personal hygiene habits to help you stay away from microplastics

1. Use natural toiletries. Choose toiletries that do not contain microplastic particles, such as toothpaste and facial cleanser with natural ingredients. Pay attention to the product's ingredient list and avoid buying products containing microplastics.

2. Clean your skin regularly. Take a bath and wash your hands frequently to keep your skin clean, especially after contact with items that may contain microplastics. Avoid touching your face and mouth directly with your hands to reduce the risk of microplastics entering the body through skin contact.

3. Participate in garbage sorting and recycling. Put plastic products in different categories to increase recycling rates. By participating in environmental protection activities, understand the hazards and solutions of microplastic pollution, and contribute to protecting the environment together.

Boiled water VS bottled water: Which is healthier?

There is actually no absolute answer to the question of whether it is healthier to boil your own water or drink bottled water. This mainly depends on the local water quality and personal living habits.

Tap water can usually meet national standards after being purified by the water plant

Boil water for drinking by yourself, usually refers to boiling tap water for drinking. After being purified by the water plant, tap water can usually meet the "Sanitary Standards for Drinking Water" promulgated by the state. Although people sometimes worry that tap water may contain heavy metals, chlorine and other harmful substances, in fact, as long as the water source is not seriously polluted and the boiling time is sufficient, these harmful substances can be greatly reduced or even eliminated.

For example, magnesium, calcium and other substances that may be contained in tap water will form scale during the heating process, but these scales will not cause direct harm to the human body unless consumed in large quantities. At the same time, the chlorine content in tap water is usually within a safe range, and most of the chlorine will evaporate during the boiling process, so there is no need to worry about it causing harm to the human body. Boiling water for drinking by yourself is relatively economical and convenient, and it is usually safer if you pay attention to the water quality and boiling method.

Avoid long-term repeated boiling of tap water to cause loss of minerals and increase of nitrite

It is worth noting that if water is boiled repeatedly, the minerals in the water will gradually be lost and trace amounts of nitrite may be produced. Although nitrite has a certain vasodilating effect on the human body, large intake may cause vasodilation, headache, drowsiness and other symptoms, and may even cause poisoning. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid long-term repeated boiling of tap water and drink it in moderation.

Drinking bottled water for a long time may lead to nutritional imbalance

If the local water quality is poor and contains too many heavy metals or other pollutants, then drinking bottled water may be a safer choice. Bottled water is favored by many people for its convenience and safety. However, in recent years, health issues related to bottled water have also aroused people's attention.

In addition, bottled water usually does not contain the minerals needed by the human body. Long-term drinking may lead to nutritional imbalance and even cause problems such as rough skin. Therefore, even if you choose bottled water, it is recommended to drink it in moderation and combine it with other diets to ensure nutritional balance.

Bottled water may be contaminated during production, storage and transportation

First, if bottled water is not handled properly during production, storage and transportation, it may be contaminated by bacteria and viruses, which may lead to oral infections, gastrointestinal damage and other problems. These bacterial contaminations may cause oral diseases such as angular cheilitis and oral ulcers, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. Therefore, it is very important to choose a reputable brand and ensure that bottled water is consumed within the validity period.

Secondly, the microplastic particles that may be contained in bottled water are also an issue that cannot be ignored. Recently, according to a study published in the international academic journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States" (PNAS), each liter of bottled water contains an average of about 240,000 detectable plastic particles. These microplastic particles may enter the human body through drinking water. Although the long-term effects of microplastics on human health are still under study, long-term intake of microplastics may pose a potential risk to human health.

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