Can Berkey Remove Microplastics From Water?

Can Berkey Remove Microplastics From Water?

By Dan DeBaun

Microplastics have been found in surface waters across the world, but scientists have only recently begun to examine the extent of these tiny plastic contaminants in groundwater sources.

How Do You Remove Microplastics From Drinking Water?

According the the most recent research, granular activated carbon, carbon block, and reverse osmosis filters will remove microplastics from the water.

So, How About the Berkey Removing Microplastics?

The Black Berkey elements have been tested to remove viruses to the nanometer range which suggests that contaminants much larger in size, such as microplastics should also be removed.

And for perspective, the largest virus is smaller than the smallest bacterium. So essentially, the Black Berkeys have been proven to remove bacteria, and then also the smaller viruses from the water.

However, since actual testing of plastic fibers has not yet been conducted, we cannot officially make that claim.

A recent study has just found microplastic fibers in fractured limestone aquifers — groundwater systems that serve as a source of 25% of the world's drinking water.

Does Berkey Remove Microplastics

Does Berkey Remove Microplastics? A zoomed in picture of a microplastic found in drinking water.

The study, which was recently published in the scientific journal Groundwater, found microplastic fibers, as well as an array of medicinal and other common household pollutants, in two Illinoisan aquifer systems.

"Plastic in the environment breaks down into microscopic particles that can end up in the guts and gills of marine life, exposing the animals to chemicals in the plastic," explained John Scott, a research scientist at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and co-author of the study. "As the plastics break down, they act like sponges that soak up contaminants and microbes and can ultimately work their way into our food supply."

Water seeps through fissures and cracks in limestone, and may also carry sewage and runoff containing contaminants from roadways, agricultural land and landfills into underground aquifers, Scott explained.

For the study, the scientists analyzed 17 groundwater samples collected from springs and wells supplied by highly fractured limestone aquifers — 11 of which were located in close proximity to the St. Louis metropole, while 6 were located in outlying rural areas of northwestern Illinois.

Sixteen of the seventeen samples analyzed were contaminated with microplastic fibers. According to the study, the sample with the highest concentration — containing 15.2 microplastic fibers per liter — came from a spring situated near St. Louis. However, according to Scott, because no risk assessment studies have been undertaken and microplastic levels in drinking water are not regulated, determining the health implications of those concentrations presents somewhat of a challenge.

On comparing the concentrations of microplastics in groundwater samples with that of surface waters nearby, the researchers found that the concentrations were similar to levels found in streams and rivers in and around Chicago.

Does Berkey Water Filter Remove Microplastics? A Diagram of how Microplastics are created.

Does Berkey Water Filter Remove Microplastics? A Diagram of how Microplastics are created.

Upon examining the samples the scientists identified various personal health and other common household contaminants as well as microplastic fibers, suggesting that microplastics may originate from household onsite wastewater treatment systems.

Polyester fibers are shed when clothing is washed, and make their way into the septic system with laundry water. From there they can potentially leach through soils with wastewater effluent, ultimately ending up in the groundwater, particularly in aquifers such as these where surface water tends to interact more readily with groundwater

This study is the first of its kind and is only the tip of the iceberg, says Scott, who anticipates that microplastic contamination of both surface and groundwater systems will continue to be an issue for many years ahead.

"Even if we quit plastics cold turkey today, we will still deal with this issue for years because plastic never really goes away," Scott said. "It is estimated that 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste have been produced since the 1940s, and 79 percent of that is now in landfills or the natural environment. To me, it is such a weird concept that these materials are intended for single use, yet they are designed to last forever."

The problem is that these tiny microscopic plastic contaminants don't just last forever in the environment, they get into our food and water supplies, and ultimately into our bodies where they can potentially pose a health risk.

More About Berkey Removing Microplastics?

The Black Berkey elements can reduce viruses down to the nanometer scale in the tested range of 24-26 nanometers.

24-26 nanometers is .024 to .026 microns…in other words, much smaller than the plastic particles being found in water.

Since the berkey water filter black berkey elements have been tested to remove viruses to the nanometer range, it suggests that contaminants much larger in size, such as plastic fibers should also be removed.

However, since actual testing of plastic fibers has not yet been conducted, we cannot officially make that claim. Journal Reference Samuel V Panno, et al. Microplastic Contamination in Karst Groundwater Systems. Groundwater. January 2019. doi: 10.1111/gwat.12862

Dan DeBaun

Dan DeBaun

Dan DeBaun is the owner and operator of Big Berkey Water Filters. Prior to Berkey, Dan was an asset manager for a major telecommunications company. He graduated from Rutgers with an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering, followed by an MBA in finance from Rutgers as well. Dan enjoys biohacking, exercising, meditation, beach life, and spending time with family and friends.

~ The Owner of Big Berkey Water Filters

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  • Avatar of Samantha Samantha 2019-11-02 11:23:25

    Hello, will there be testing done on the Berkey removing Microplastics?

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2019-11-05 20:35:51

    Hi Samantha -

    Yes, this is on the list of tests upcoming, but we do not have a time table at this point.

    Thanks
    Dan

  • Avatar of Sheila Armstrong Sheila Armstrong 2019-03-21 18:48:30

    Will you be doing any testing on chiropractic filtration in the near future? I am very interested to know more on this.

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2019-03-21 18:49:47

    Hi Sheila -

    We are not familiar with this type of filtration.

    Thanks
    Dan

  • Avatar of Dan DeBaun Dan DeBaun 2021-03-03 15:37:02

    No pranks here. We were simply responding to Sheilas question that we are not familiar with chiropractic filtration.