Tap water could be putting your heart at risk: Purify it at home with this simple trick

The human body is made up of 62 to 70% water. No living organism can survive without water. Water helps in digestion, the respiratory process, and blood circulation. It is the primary element for survival for all.

The most common way of consuming water is tap water. But it cannot always be a healthy option for people in many countries. Tap water comes directly from rivers or other sources. It is not filtered and may have contaminants and toxic particles in it. One of the most common concerns these days is the presence of microplastics in water.

According to a study conducted by Orb Media titled "Invisibles: The Plastic Inside Us," it was found that tap water samples from 14 countries were found to contain microplastics. What came as a shock was that almost 83% of the samples contained microplastics.

What exactly is microplastic?

Microplastic is a plastic particle sized between 1 nanometer to 5 millimeters, which makes it smaller than a grain of sand. Microplastic was usually found in oceans but has now made its way into daily life.

A WWF report revealed that drinking water sources—groundwater, tap water, and surface water—are the biggest contributors of microplastic in daily life. On average, a person consumes 1,769 microparticles on a weekly basis.

Another report from POLS One provided deeper insight into how microparticles vary with regional differences in water. In that report, it was found that 94% of US tap water contains microparticles, whereas 72% of European borders have microplastic particles, and India has over 82.4% microplastic in its tap water. The report also stated that an average person consumes 5,800 particles on a daily basis, 88% of which come from tap water.

Effect of microplastic on the human body

Microplastic can cause significant damage to the human body. It can irritate the digestive tract, causing inflammation.

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has found a link between microplastics in carotid arteries and an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death. Study found that individuals with microplastics in their carotid plaque had a 4.5-fold higher risk of these events compared to those without.

Microplastic contains harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and flame retardants.

They can cause:

Endocrine disruption (affecting hormones)
Carcinogenic effects (linked to cancer)
Neurotoxic effects (may harm the brain, especially in infants)

Recent studies to remove microparticles

A recent study by scientists at Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University said that boiling tap water catalyzes mineral (calcium carbonate) deposition, which captures microplastics. It removes up to 90% of particles. After boiling it, you have to filter it using a coffee filter or kettle mesh, allowing water to be filtered further. It is considered a low-cost, effective method that can be used in daily routine.