Could Malaysian Tap Water Be Contaminated With Microplastic And Pharmaceutical Waste?

In recent years, Malaysia has been grappling with a silent but significant environmental menace: the potential contamination of its water bodies with microplastics and pharmaceutical waste. This pollution poses a severe threat not only to aquatic ecosystems but also to human health.

So, what are the causes and consequences of this contamination? We explore the origin and potential health effects associated with exposure to these harmful pollutants.

What is microplastic and pharmaceutical waste contamination?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, less than 5mm in size, that originate from various sources such as the breakdown of larger plastic debris, microbeads in personal care products and synthetic fibres from clothing.

Pharmaceutical waste, on the other hand, refers to residues of drugs and medications that enter water bodies through improper disposal, sewage systems, or runoff from pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

How are Malaysian waters affected?

Malaysia’s abundant water resources, including rivers, lakes and coastal areas, are vital for sustaining ecosystems, supporting agriculture and providing drinking water to millions of people. However, these water bodies are also possibly contaminated by microplastics and pharmaceutical waste due to urbanisation, industrialisation and inadequate waste management practices.

According to a 2018 study, 93% of 259 bottled waters contain microplastics¹. More recently, a 2024 study reported that there are 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic in every litre of bottled water on average².

Besides that, research conducted in Putrajaya also detected the presence of various pharmaceutical residue concentrations up to 0.38 ng/L, with the highest concentration of caffeine (0.38 ng/L) and the lowest concentration of diclofenac (0.14 ng/L), all of which were assessed as ubiquitous in daily drinking water, and can increase the likelihood of potential human health risks³.

What are the health implications ofmicroplastic and pharmaceutical waste contamination?

The potential presence of microplastics and pharmaceutical waste in Malaysian water poses significant health risks to both humans and aquatic life. Let’s take a closer look...

Impact of Microplastic Pollution

• Bioaccumulation – Microplastics and associated contaminants can accumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms and enter the food chain, eventually reaching humans through consumption of contaminated seafood, leading to long-term health risks.
• Disruption of Ecosystems – Microplastics can harm aquatic organisms by obstructing their digestive systems, causing physical injury and altering their behaviour and reproductive patterns, thus disrupting entire ecosystems.

Impact of Pharmaceutical Waste Pollution

• Human Health Effects – Some chemicals found in pharmaceuticals, such as hormones and antibiotics, can disrupt the endocrine system in humans, leading to reproductive disorders, developmental abnormalities and hormonal imbalances.
• Chemical Toxicity – Certain pharmaceuticals contain active ingredients that, even in low concentrations, can be toxic to human cells and organs, potentially causing adverse health effects ranging from allergic reactions to organ damage.
• Transfer of Contaminants – Pharmaceutical waste can introduce harmful chemicals into the environment, affecting not only aquatic organisms but also terrestrial wildlife and plants through bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

How can we address the water pollution crisis?

Mitigating the contamination of Malaysian waters with microplastics and pharmaceutical waste requires a multi-faceted approach involving industry collaboration, public awareness and education as well as innovative technological solutions.

Is Malaysian tap water safe to drink?

While still cleaner than many other places, the possible contamination of Malaysian waters with microplastics and pharmaceutical waste comes with potential health risks. Thus, it is highly recommended that each household invest in an innovative water purifying solution to ensure clean, safe and healthy mineralised drinking water for Malaysians of all ages.

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References:

1. Mason SA, Welch VG, Neratko J. Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water. Front Chem. 2018 Sep 11;6:407. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00407. PMID: 30255015; PMCID: PMC6141690.
2. Qian N, Gao X, Lang X, Deng H, Bratu TM, Chen Q, Stapleton P, Yan B, Min W. Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Jan 16;121(3):e2300582121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2300582121. Epub 2024 Jan 8. PMID: 38190543; PMCID: PMC10801917.
3. Sarva Mangala Praveena, Maizatul Zahirah Mohd Rashid, Fauzan Adzima Mohd Nasir, Wee Sze Yee, Ahmad Zaharin Aris, Occurrence and potential human health risk of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water from Putrajaya (Malaysia), Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume 180, 2019, Pages 549-556, ISSN 0147-6513, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.05.051.