The average liter of bottled water has nearly a quarter million invisible pieces of ever so tiny nanoplastics, detected and categorized for the first time by a microscope using dual lasers. Scientists long figured there were lots of these microscopic plastic pieces, but until researchers at Columbia and Rutgers universities did their calculations they never knew how many or what kind. … Much of the plastic seems to be coming from the bottle itself and the reverse osmosis membrane filter used to keep out other contaminants, said study lead author Naixin Qian. … Researchers still can’t answer the big question: Are those nanoplastic pieces harmful to health?

Related articles: 

• Los Angeles Times: Thousands of nanoplastics found in bottled drinking water 
• Reuters: Microplastics in Antarctic studied in penguin droppings and water
• Washington Post: Here’s what you’re really swallowing when you drink bottled water