Innovation & Technology

French Study Uncovers Health Threats Hidden in Our Drinking Water

A Université de Toulouse study reveals 98% of microplastics present in the city’s drinking water are too small to be detected by current EU water-safety protocols, which considerably underestimate their presence and their health risks — not just in France, but around the world.

Published 2 months ago | About a 4 minute read

Image: Bluewater

An alarming new study published in PLOS Water reveals that French drinking water is saturated with microplastics smaller than 20 micrometers (µm). These tiny particles — fine enough to infiltrate human blood and organs — fall below the threshold of the current detection methodology of European Directive 2020/2184, representing a significant oversight in water safety regulations.

The study — led by the Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement and Géosciences environnement laboratory at Université de Toulouse — analyzed 10 brands of bottled water and a sample of tap water in Toulouse, and detected concentrations of 19 to 1,154 microplastics per liter. 17 types of polymers were identified — the most common being polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) — suggesting their introduction throughout production and even during capture. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used for bottles, was present in only 7 out of 10 brands — and often in small proportions — showing that the bottles themselves are not a major source of contamination.

The study reveals a staggering 98 percent of microplastics present in the city’s drinking water are too small to be detected by current water-safety protocols, which considerably underestimate their presence and their health risks.

A silent health crisis

While the Toulouse study focused on France, microplastic contamination is a worldwide issue: A 2023 study estimated 171 trillion microplastic particles are now floating in the world's waterways, from oceanic gyres to freshwater lakes. They originate from the breakdown of a variety of sources — including larger plastic debris, synthetic textile fibers and microbeads found in personal-care products — and are notoriously difficult to collect and remove from the environment.

A 2019 study conducted for the World Wildlife Fund by the University of Newcastle in Australia estimated the average human is consuming roughly 5 grams of plastic every week, which is approximately the equivalent of a credit card. While researchers continue to study their effects on human, animal and environmental health, microplastics can breach the body’s natural defenses, accumulate in vital organs; and potentially trigger inflammation, toxicity and chronic diseases.

In response to the findings, Bluewater — maker of water purifiers and filtration stations for home and business — is calling on governments, regulators and industries around the world to act decisively to protect public health. Bluewater founder and CEO Bengt Rittri warned that failure to address these shortcomings could lead to devastating long-term consequences for human health and environmental stability worldwide.

“If efforts aimed at stopping minuscule microplastics polluting human intestines, blood and other organs are not fit for task, it raises urgent questions about regulatory standards and public health protections,” Rittri said. “This is an invisible crisis with very real consequences. Outdated detection standards in the EU and elsewhere are risking millions of lives. We cannot wait for further evidence of harm before acting. Studies show that only 9 percent of all plastic is recycled; and microplastics are in our water, food, and the air. The time to act is now.”

Bluewater’s call to action

Bluewater is calling for immediate, sweeping reforms to combat microplastic contamination of the world's drinking water:

Update detection standards: The EU and authorities elsewhere must lower detection thresholds for microplastics to include particles smaller than 20 µm and mandate comprehensive testing of water supplies.
Adopt advanced filtration technologies: Proven filtration solutions capable of removing microplastics — like those developed by Bluewater — should become the industry standard for ensuring water safety in homes, workplaces and public spaces.
Increase public awareness: Consumers have a right to know what is in their water. Governments and industries must prioritize transparency and educate the public about the risks and solutions.

Bluewater calls on international regulators to follow suit and prioritize public health over convenience, lobbying for stricter standards and investment in innovative water treatment technologies.

“Governments must recognize that clean, safe drinking water is not a luxury — it’s a basic human right,” Rittri added. “This is not just a French or EU issue — it’s a global call to action. If we don’t act now to safeguard the health of people and the planet, we risk turning our most vital resource into a health hazard.”