Miami - The plastic debris included polypropylene, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used to make bottle caps.
Particle concentration ranged from "zero to more than 10,000 likely plastic particles in a single bottle," said the report.
On average, plastic particles in the 100 micron (0.10 millimeter) size range - considered "microplastics," - were found at an average rate of 10.4 plastic particles per liter.Safety guidelines regarding water sold in the UAE:
- Any scientific statement must be issued by specialists of the same field, and must be supported by scientific evidence or based on scientific references that are accredited and known.
- According to UAE and Gulf Standards No. UAE.S GSO 1025: 2014 for bottled water, the pH of water should be between 6.5 - 8.5.
- The pH in the drinking water is a quality characteristic and has no health effect. Mineral water does not specify the natural pH because natural water has its own acid according to origin.
- All products in the local markets are under the supervision of the Food Safety Department, either during manufacturing process, importing or circulation and to being verified that they meet the health standards and specifications, laws and legislation adopted.
The previous tests were reviewed by the Dubai Central Laboratory for the mentioned products. The results of the examination were within the acceptable percentage (6.5-8.5).
Other brands that were found to contain plastic contaminated included Bisleri, Epura, Gerolsteiner, Minalba and Wahaha.
Experts cautioned that the extent of the risk to human health posed by such contamination remains unclear.
"We know that they are connected to these synthetic chemicals in the environment and we know that plastics are providing kind of a means to get those chemicals into our bodies."
Previous research by Orb Media has found plastic particles in tap water, too, but on a smaller scale.
"Tap water, by and large, is much safer than bottled water," said Mason.
The three-month study used a technique developed by the University of East Anglia's School of Chemistry to "see" microplastic particles by staining them using fluorescent Nile Red dye, which makes plastic fluorescent when irradiated with blue light.
"The results stack up."
Jacqueline Savitz, chief policy officer for North America at Oceana, a marine advocacy group that was not involved in the research, said the study provides more evidence that society must abandon the ubiquitous use of plastic water bottles.
"We know plastics are building-up in marine animals, and this means we too are being exposed, some of us, every day," she said.
"It's more urgent now than ever before to make plastic water bottles a thing of the past."