Water distillers are effective in removing microplastics from water. During the distillation process, water is heated to create steam, which is then condensed back into liquid form.
Distilled water undergoes a purification process involving vaporization and condensation. As a result, the Safe Drinking Water Foundation reports that distillation filters can generate around 99.9% pure distilled water — effectively filtering out 100% of known microplastics.
Avoiding microplastics in water
One of the easiest ways to avoid microplastics in your drinking water is to avoid plastic bottles. Instead, you can use stainless steel or glass bottles. Use tap water instead of bottled water, if possible.
Distilled water more readily dissolves plastics, (heavy) metals, and some organic substances from pipes, coatings, storage tanks and containers. As a result, you may wind up consuming them instead. If you do drink distilled water, we recommend that you store it in glass.
This approach is more effective in hard water than soft. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, found that boiling soft water removed only around 25 percent of microplastics, while boiling hard water removed as much as 90 percent.
Which bottled water has the least microplastics? According to a study of 11 globally sourced bottled water brands, San Pellegrino has the least microplastics. Gerolsteiner and Nestlé Pure Life were found to have the most.
Distilled water is almost entirely free of minerals and salts. This results in a “flat” taste due to the removal of minerals. Distillation normally removes over 99.9 percent of the dissolved materials. Nevertheless, there are certain volatile and semivolatile organic compounds that may not be removed by distillation.
You can store it somewhere dark and cool (away from sunlight), e.g. your kitchen cupboard to keep the water pure and uncontaminated. If you store your distilled water correctly, it can last up to two years! Once the bottle is opened, you should refrigerate it.
Reduced Mold and Bacteria Growth: With no minerals to feed on, mold and bacteria are less likely to thrive in a humidifier filled with distilled water. This minimizes the risk of respiratory problems associated with these organisms.
The Brita Hub™ is certified to reduce 70+ contaminants including chlorine, lead, and microplastics.
However, even in soft water samples (less than 60 milligrams CaCO3 per liter), boiling still removed around 25% of NMPs. The researchers say that this work could provide a simple, yet effective, method to reduce NMP consumption.
-Distilled water is not used for drinking because it is demineralized i.e. it does not contain any minerals. Pure or distilled water has highly solubility. Distilled water is acidic in nature and is used to draw poison out of the body. -Continued drinking of distilled water is harmful for the human body.
Tips to reduce microplastics exposure
But you can take steps to reduce your exposure. Instead of drinking bottled water, make it a priority to drink filtered tap water whenever possible. It likely contains fewer contaminants such as microplastics. For advice about which filters to use, consult EWG's helpful guide.
No. Distilled water means that water is evaporated and then condensed. Impurities can be carried in the water vapour and then condensed. Sterile water means that water is purified so that it is safe for medical purposes.
Mistake: Leaving containers open or improperly sealed allows contaminants like dust, bacteria, and chemicals to enter the water, diminishing its purity. Solution: After opening a container of distilled water, always ensure it is sealed tightly.
Distilled water keeps indefinitely. However, if you plan to drink it, it's probably best to discard and purchase a new jug after about five years. If you're using the water for other purposes, though, it should be fine no matter how long you've had it.
Containers made from particular materials, such as plastic monomers (like those at the grocery store), may leach contaminants into the water over time, undoing all the effort to get pure water. Since distilled water is so pure, it is easily tainted by impurities from its storage container.
According to the WHO, these and other associated health problems are partly due to the lack of minerals and electrolytes in distilled water. This lack forces unhealthy changes in the delicate balance of sodium, potassium, fluid, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and other nutrients in the body.
A home water distiller can remove microplastics and other contaminants by turning boiling water into steam and back into liquid, leaving plastic particles behind in the boiling process.
While boiling water on your stovetop may not be an effective way to remove PFAS (and can actually concentrate them!), distillation can effectively separate these harmful chemicals from your drinking water.
Removing microplastics from your body is not easy, and it's a continuous effort. It requires commitment to limit our exposure to the best of our ability and focus on a healthy lifestyle. This can aid the bodies' natural detoxification processes.
Does Waiākea Have PFAS? Nope! Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water has no PFAS in any of its products, including its sparkling and non-carbonated water. In fact, Waiākea is one of few bottled water brands to have no detectable (ND) levels of PFAS in its still or sparkling water.