Investigation of microplastics contamination in drinking water of a German city

The drinking water of a German city was investigated for microplastics. Random samples were taken from three house connections, one transfer station, and five consumption taps in an educational institution, an apartment, a single-family house, a residential building, and a commercial enterprise. The sample volumes ranged from 0.25-1.3 m(3). A stainless-steel membrane served as a sampling filter. HCl was used for the acidic digestion of the inorganic precipitates. Raman micro spectroscopy was used for the analysis of microplastic particles. The detection limit was 10 mu m. Particles and fibers >==100 mu m were measured on 100% of the filter area, while particles and fibers <100 mu m were measured on 50% of the filter area. The analytical procedure was validated by determining recovery rates and analyses of blanks. In addition to microplastics, pigmented particles and fibers were also analyzed. Neither microplastic particles and fibers nor pigmented particles and fibers were detected at house connections and the transfer station. No microplastics were detected in any sample at consumption taps. At one tap, 113 +/- 83 copper phthalocyanine particles m(-3) were detected. (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

The drinking water of a German city was investigated for microplastics by taking samples from different locations using various analytical methods. Microplastic particles and fibers were not detected in house connections and the transfer station, but copper phthalocyanine particles were detected at one consumption tap.