Boiling tap water before drinking it can remove at least 90% of potentially harmful microplastics, a new study has found.
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.
"Drinking boiled water, an ancient tradition in some Asian countries, is supposedly beneficial for human health, as boiling can remove some chemicals and most biological substances," the researchers wrote in the new study."However, it remains unclear whether boiling is effective in removing NMPs in tap water.