Introduction: a discovery that really caught our attention
With Aurélie, we have always been attentive to the quality of what we consume. Organic food, sprouted seeds, , algae, , superfoods... Recently, at the beginning of 2025, we came across a study from the CNRS in Toulouse that literally sent shivers down our spine.
Thetap waterA Toulouse resident would contain on average 413 microplastic particles per liter. 413 particles! And that's not all: 98% of these particles measure less than 20 microns, which means they are not even detected by current European standards. Essentially, our water is declared "drinkable" even though it contains thousands of plastic particles invisible to the naked eye. Polluted tap water becomes a reality that few people are aware of.
Do you imagine the equivalent of a plastic credit card being ingested every week? That's exactly what's happening according to the WWF. Frankly, it makes you think. This drinking water pollution affects us all on a daily basis without us realizing it.
But here it is, and this is where it gets really interesting: we have also discovered that solutions exist that are natural, effective, and scientifically proven. How to naturally filter tap water ?That's precisely the question we asked ourselves. So, no need to panic, just clear information and concrete actions to implement.
In this article, I will share with you what we have learned about microplastics in water, the real health risks (without catastrophizing), and especially the solutions we have tested and adopted at Biovie. Because can you drink tap water without risk ?The answer is more nuanced than one might think.
Microplastics in Water: The Situation in France (2025)
What exactly are microplastics ?
Concretely, microplastics are particles of plasticLess than 5 millimeters. Most are even invisible to the naked eye, measuring less than 20 microns (to give you an idea, a human hair is about 70 microns).
Where do they come from? From everywhere, unfortunately:
- The degradation of plastic bottles, bags, packaging
- Synthetic textiles that release fibers with each wash
- Cosmetics (some exfoliants contain microbeads)
- Tire wear on a car
- Road surfaces
There are mainly five types of polymers: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polyamide (PA). These complex names hide a simple reality: plastic in our water.
The situation in France in 2025
The study by the CNRS in Toulouse, published in January 2025, was a real wake-up call for the scientific community. They analyzed the local tap water and compared it with 10 brands of bottled water sold in France.
The results are enlightening:
- Tap water of Toulouse : 413 particles per liter
- Bottled water : between 19 and 1,154 particles per liter depending on the brands
- The paradox : 8 out of 10 brands contained MORE microplastics than tap water
That's why this discovery caught our attention: if we buy (well, we never buy) bottled water in plastic thinking we're avoiding "tap pollution," we end up increasing our exposure to microplastics. The plastic bottle danger is very real, contrary to popular belief.
But that's not all. Another major finding from the study published in the journal PLOS Water in January 2025 shows that 98% of microplastics present in drinking water measure less than 20 microns. And guess what? Current European standards ONLY detect particles between 20 microns and 5 millimeters. Essentially, 98% of microplastics completely go under the radar of official controls. The tap water contaminants are therefore not limited to what official analyses detect.
The illusion of bottled water
We have always favored filtering tap water before consuming it for obvious ecological reasons (less plastic, less transport). But many of our customers were asking us if Bottled water contains microplastics. and if it was not "safer."
Recent studies show exactly the opposite.
The association Agir pour l'Environnement analyzed the 9 best-selling bottled water brands in France in 2022. Result: 7 out of 9 contained microplastics, with concentrations ranging from 1 to 121 particles per liter.
The record is held by... Vittel Kids. Yes, you read that right: the water specifically marketed for children contained 121 microplastic particles per liter. Both ironic and concerning.
But the worst is an American study from Columbia University and Rutgers published in 2024, which detected an average of 240,000 fragments per liter in bottled water, 90% of which are nanoplastics (even smaller than microplastics, less than 1 micron). These particles are so small that they pass through all cellular barriers.
The problem? The bottle itself. Every time you open, close, carry, or leave a bottle in the sun, the plastic releases particles into the water. The longer the bottle is stored, the more the water is contaminated. Tap water vs bottled water microplastics ?The verdict is clear: filtered tap water is undeniably safer.
Impact of microplastics on human health
The 7 systems of the body affected
In reality, I am deeply convinced that we do not yet fully grasp the magnitude of the problem. Research on microplastics is relatively recent (the first serious studies date back to 2015-2016), but the data is accumulating and it is concerning.
Here is what science has documented so far:
1. Cardiovascular system
An Italian study from 2024 conducted by Dr. Parvaiz Koul in Naples showed that people with microplastics in their carotid arteries have a 4.5 times higher risk of experiencing a Stroke or a heart attack. 4.5 times! This is not insignificant.
2. Digestive system
Microplastics create chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall. Worse still, they disrupt our microbiota (these precious bacteria that help us digest and defend ourselves). Dr. Muriel Mercier-Bonin from INRAE explains it clearly: "Microplastics cross the intestinal barrier and enter the bloodstream to migrate to secondary organs."
3. Reproductive system
Several studies show a correlation between exposure to microplastics and decreased fertility in both men and women. The endocrine disruptions caused by certain plastic additives (phthalates, bisphenol A) exacerbate the problem.
4. Nervous system
Here is perhaps the most worrying data: between 2016 and 2024, the concentration of microplastics in the human brain increased by 50%. In just 8 years! Researchers found particles in brain tissues during autopsies.
5. Skeletal system
Preliminary studies show a weakening of bone structure linked to the accumulation of microplastics in the bone marrow.
6. Endocrine system
Microplastics act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with our hormones.thyroid, reproduction, growth).
7. Immune system
Chronic inflammation caused by microplastics creates permanent oxidative stress that weakens our immune defenses.
Presence in all our organs
Honestly, the list is long and depressing. Microplastics have been found in: the blood, the brain, the liver, the kidneys, the lungs, the heart, the placenta, the amniotic fluid, the testicles, and even the bone marrow.
What particularly strikes me is that newborns are already born with microplastics in their bodies. They are exposed from intrauterine life through the placenta. What kind of legacy are we leaving them...
The particular case of PFAS
As long as we're talking about pollutants in the water, it is absolutely necessary to mention the PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). It's somewhat the silent accomplice of microplastics.
PFAS, nicknamed "forever chemicals," are chemical compounds that have been used since the 1940s in thousands of products: food packaging, waterproof textiles, non-stick pans, cosmetics, firefighting foams...
Their peculiarity? They NEVER degrade naturally. Once released into the environment, they remain there for centuries. And they massively contaminate our drinking water.
In France, the 2023 analysis conducted by Le Monde and Générations Futures revealed that:
- 17,000 sites are contaminated with PFAS in France
- 34 million French people drink water exceeding the recommended thresholds
- 84% of the waterways analyzed contain PFAS
- Concentrations vary from 10 ng/L to 1,500 ng/L according to the regions
PFAS accumulate in our bodies and cause: cancers (kidney, testicular), fertility issues, thyroid disruptions, high cholesterol, weakened immune system, and complications of pregnancy.
The catch? Traditional wastewater treatment plants DO NOT FILTER PFAS. They pass through and contaminate the distributed drinking water. That's why filter tap waterBecomes a health necessity, not just a trend.
Solutions to eliminate microplastics: what really works
Our exclusive scientific test: EcoFiltro VS microplastics
In February 2025, our manufacturer commissioned the independent laboratory Measurlabs (Finland) a rigorous test on our water filter EcoFiltro. The objective? To scientifically verify its effectiveness against microplastics.
The test protocol was as follows:
- Contaminant : Polystyrene (particles of 2-50 microns)
- Initial concentration : 1,000 particles/L
- Tested volume : 5 liters of water
- Detection method : Infrared Raman Spectroscopy
- Laboratory : Measurlabs (ISO 17025 accredited)
The results honestly blew us away:
- Before filtration : 1,000 particles/L (artificially contaminated water)
- After EcoFiltro filtration : 0 particles detected
- Efficiency : 100% elimination
- Recovery rate : 88.4% (test reliability measure)
Zero particles. Zero. That's exactly what we hoped for, but seeing the official results from an independent laboratory changes everything. We're no longer talking about marketing promises, but about tangible scientific evidence.
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