Review aims to put lid on plastic in drinking water

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is launching a health review into microplastic contamination in drinking water after two investigations found plastic in bottled and tap water.

Research by Orb Media released this week found microplastics in 90 per cent of bottled water, while last year the same investigators found 83 per cent of global tap water contains plastic particles.

Britain’s own drinking water regulator, The Drinking Water Inspectorate, has also commissioned research to find out if UK water is dangerously polluted. It warned that new regulations would be brought in to force water companies to clean up supplies if they were found to be dangerous to public health.