Microplastic Contamination in Drinking Water: A Review
Abstract
Background: Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 µm that persist in the environment and resist natural degradation. Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of microplastics in various environmental media, including drinking water. This contamination raises public health concerns because microplastics can enter the human body through daily water consumption and may carry hazardous chemical substances, potentially causing long-term health effects.
Objective: This study aims to examine the presence, characteristics, and potential health risks of microplastic contamination in drinking water through a systematic literature review.
Method: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Scientific articles were obtained from Google Scholar, ResearchGate, PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect using the keywords microplastic, drinking water, bottled water, and health risk. Data were analyzed descriptively, focusing on microplastic types, particle sizes, polymer composition, and identification methods.
Results: Microplastics were detected in bottled water, refill drinking water, and tap water in several countries, including Indonesia. The dominant forms were fragments and fibers, with sizes ranging from 0.01 µm to >5 µm. The most common polymers were polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS). Identification methods included filtration, microscopy, ATR-FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and…
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