Material migration at home – how plastics, seals, and hoses shape drinking water quality
Drinking water is chemically active. Once it enters household plumbing, it interacts with the materials it contacts. Plastics, elastomers, seals, and flexible hoses can release trace substances into the water through a process known as material migration. This mechanism is a well-established contributor to water composition at the point of use. Material migration arises because […]
Why Testing Methods Matter: Not All “Microplastic Tests” Measure the Same Thing
Microplastics are increasingly detected in drinking water, bottled water, and food. As a result, more products, filters, and studies now claim to be “tested for microplastics.” What is rarely explained is a critical fact: not all microplastic tests measure the same thing. The method determines what you see — and what you miss. There Is […]
Microplastics vs. Nanoplastics: Why Size Changes Everything
Plastic pollution in drinking water is often discussed as a single issue. In reality, microplastics and nanoplastics are fundamentally different threats. The difference is not just scale — it is biological behavior, mobility, and risk profile. What Is the Difference? This size difference determines how these particles interact with water, filtration systems, and the human […]
What “Clean Water” Really Means in 2025: Legal Limits vs. Biological Reality
Drinking water is considered “clean” when it complies with legal standards. But in 2025, this definition is increasingly being questioned. Regulatory limits are designed for population-level safety, not for long-term biological optimization. What is legally acceptable is not always biologically harmless. Legal Compliance Does Not Equal Zero Risk Drinking water regulations set maximum allowable concentrations […]
Why smart surface technologies are defining the next generation of water filtration
Water purification is evolving — and „smart surfaces“ make the differenceTraditional filters and membranes often reach their limits when it comes to modern challenges such as PFAS, drug residues, nanoplastics and complex mixed impurities. New approaches are therefore relying on so-called smart-surface technologies: membranes or filter materials whose surfaces are designed for nanosubbes or microbes […]
The Truth About Activated Carbon: Why Some Filters Barely Remove PFAS & Pharmaceuticals – And Others Excel
Activated carbon is not a universal solutionThe effectiveness of activated carbon depends heavily on its pore structure, surface area and contact time. Many consumer-grade filters use coarse or low-volume carbon layers that are insufficient for removing persistent contaminants. Research shows that only high-surface-area microporous carbon (PAC or high-grade GAC) can reliably adsorb PFAS and pharmaceutical […]
From River to Brain — Tracking the Journey of Plastic Pollution
The Plastic Pathway Through the Planet — and the BodyEvery plastic fragment that enters a river begins a journey that doesn’t end in the ocean — it ends in us. Studies in Nature Geoscience (2024) reveal that micro- and nanoplastics migrate through river sediments into groundwater, drinking systems, and ultimately the bloodstream. Once circulating, these […]
Microplastics in Groundwater — The Next Frontier of Environmental Regulation
The Pollution We Can’t See Beneath Our FeetWhile oceans and surface waters dominate the headlines, a quieter crisis is unfolding underground. Studies across Europe and Asia (Environmental Science & Pollution Research, 2024) reveal that microplastics have infiltrated groundwater aquifers — the primary source of drinking water for nearly half the global population.These particles originate from […]
Endocrine Disruptors in Everyday Water — The Silent Hormonal Imbalance
Invisible Chemicals, Measurable EffectsEndocrine disruptors are chemical compounds that interfere with the body’s hormonal system — even in trace amounts. Common examples include bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and PFAS, all of which have been detected in drinking water worldwide (Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2024). These substances mimic or block natural hormones, disrupting metabolism, fertility, and […]
How Household Plumbing Becomes a Source of Microplastic Exposure
The Hidden Source Inside Your HomeWhile global attention focuses on plastic pollution in oceans and bottled water, few realize that household plumbing systems themselves can release microplastics. Aging pipes made from PVC, PEX, or polypropylene degrade under heat, water pressure, and chlorine exposure — shedding microscopic fragments directly into drinking water.A 2024 study in Environmental […]