Nanoplastics in Water: What the New Ohio State Study Means for Your Drinking Water
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If you've been reaching for bottled water thinking it's the cleaner choice, a new study from Ohio State University might change your mind.
Researchers found that bottled water contains three times as many nanoplastic particles as treated tap water. Over half of all the particles they detected were nanoplastics — the smallest, hardest-to-detect form of plastic contamination in our water supply.
So what does this mean for you and your family? And what can you actually do about it?
Zero Installation Purifier vs Pitcher Filters: 8-Point Reality Check
If your current setup is a pitcher, here's the practical comparison against a countertop RO system like Zero Installation Purifier:
- Filtration depth: pitcher filters are limited; RO systems target far smaller dissolved and particulate contaminants.
- Nanoplastic context: pitchers are not designed for nanoscale filtration performance; RO membranes are built for fine separation.
- Consistency: pitcher performance can drop quickly with delayed cartridge changes.
- Volume: Zero Installation Purifier supports household daily use better than repeated pitcher refills.
- Speed-to-glass: pitcher flow can feel convenient, but output quality is not the same filtration class.
- Installation effort: both are easy, but Zero Installation Purifier remains no-plumbing while providing RO-level treatment.
- Ownership cost: pitchers can look cheap upfront; long-term cartridge replacement and performance limits are the tradeoff.
- Best fit: pitcher = light convenience; Zero Installation Purifier = serious drinking-water upgrade without under-sink installation.
Relevant product paths: - Zero Installation Purifier (Zero Installation Purifier) - U1-W Space-Saving 4-in-1 Water Filter System
Quick FAQ: Is Zero Installation Purifier meaningfully better than a pitcher for high-hardness homes?
Yes. If you have visible buildup or broader contaminant concerns, Zero Installation Purifier's RO platform is a materially stronger treatment tier than standard pitcher filtration.
Quick FAQ: Shipping, Filter Life, and Installation
How long does RKIN shipping take?
Most RKIN systems ship within 1 business day from our U.S. warehouse. Standard delivery is typically 2-5 business days in the continental U.S.
How long do RKIN filters last?
Most pre/post filters last about 6-12 months depending on water quality and usage. RO membranes typically last 12-24 months. Replacing on schedule keeps performance consistent.
Is installation complicated?
No for countertop systems. Zero Installation Purifier and U1 are zero-install designs: fill the tank, plug in, and run. Flash is an undersink system and is still straightforward for most homeowners, usually 30-60 minutes.
What the Ohio State Nanoplastics Study Found
Published in February 2026 in the journal Science of the Total Environment, the study was led by Megan Jamison Hart, a PhD candidate in environmental sciences at The Ohio State University, along with senior author John Lenhart, a professor of environmental engineering.
The research team analyzed water samples from four treatment plants near Lake Erie and six different brands of bottled water using scanning electron microscopy paired with optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy. These techniques let them identify plastic particles down to the nanoscale — something most previous studies couldn't do.
Key findings:
- Bottled water contained 3x more nanoplastic particles than treated municipal drinking water
- Over 50% of all detected particles were nanoplastics — particles smaller than 1 micrometer (1/1000th of a millimeter)
- The most common plastics in bottled water came from the packaging itself — the very bottles designed to hold "pure" water
- Nanoplastic concentrations were higher than anticipated, suggesting earlier research underestimated the true scope of contamination
"For the average person who is thirsty and wants a drink, the best way to do that would be drinking it straight out of the tap rather than grabbing pre-bottled water," Hart said in the Ohio State press release.
What Are Nanoplastics, and Why Should You Care?
You've probably heard of microplastics. Nanoplastics are their smaller, more concerning counterpart.
Microplastics are plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters — roughly the size of a sesame seed or smaller. Nanoplastics measure less than 1 micrometer (1/1000th of a millimeter). A nanoplastic particle can be 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
Their size is what makes them worrying. Researchers believe nanoplastics may cross biological barriers that larger particles cannot. A 2024 study reported by Smithsonian Magazine found microplastics in human brain tissue.
As Hart noted: "While we don't really fully understand the human health risks associated with nanoplastic exposure, it's still better to try and mitigate that risk because evidence indicates that they do cause problems, even if we're not fully aware of what those are yet."
The full picture is still coming into focus. But the direction of the evidence — and the fact that nanoplastics are appearing in drinking water at higher levels than anyone previously measured — is worth paying attention to.
Where Do Nanoplastics in Water Come From?
Nanoplastics enter the water supply through several pathways:
Degradation of larger plastics. As plastic waste breaks down from UV exposure and weathering, it fragments into progressively smaller pieces.
Plastic packaging. The Ohio State study confirmed that bottled water packaging is a direct source of nanoplastic contamination. The bottles themselves are shedding plastic into the water they hold.
Industrial discharge. Manufacturing processes release plastic particles into waterways.
Synthetic textiles. Washing synthetic clothing releases microfibers that break down further over time.
Water treatment infrastructure. Some treatment facilities use plastic components that may shed particles into the water they process.
Municipal treatment plants reduce microplastic levels, but as this study showed, they don't catch everything. And bottled water — despite its "pure" marketing — often makes the problem worse because of its plastic packaging.
Wondering what else is in your tap water? You can test your home's water quality to find out exactly what you're dealing with.
Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Nanoplastics?
This is where the science gets encouraging.
Reverse osmosis (RO) filtration pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane with extremely small pores — typically around 0.0001 microns (0.1 nanometers). Nanoplastics range from roughly 0.001 to 1 micrometer in size.
That means RO membrane pores are significantly smaller than even the tiniest nanoplastic particles.
A 2019 study demonstrated that reverse osmosis systems removed 99.9% of microplastics and nanoplastics from tap water. A systematic review published in 2024 in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering confirmed that membrane separation processes like RO show higher removal rates for micro- and nanoplastics compared to conventional treatment methods.
The principle is straightforward: if the particle is larger than the membrane pore, it doesn't get through. RO membranes filter at the molecular level, so nanoplastics — despite their small size — are still far too large to pass.
How RO Compares to Other Filtration Methods
| Filtration Method | Typical Pore Size | Nanoplastic Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse Osmosis | ~0.0001 microns | Highly effective — particles physically blocked by membrane |
| Ultrafiltration | 0.01–0.1 microns | Effective for larger micro/nanoplastics |
| Activated Carbon | Varies widely | May reduce some larger microplastics; less effective at nanoscale |
| Standard Pitcher Filters | 1–50 microns | Not designed for nanoplastic removal |
If you're looking for more ways to optimize your water quality beyond contaminant removal, our guide on water quality and biohacking covers how filtration fits into a complete health optimization approach.
Practical Steps to Reduce Nanoplastic Exposure at Home
Based on the Ohio State findings and the broader research, here's what you can do:
1. Filter Your Tap Water with Reverse Osmosis
Tap water already has fewer nanoplastics than bottled water, according to this study. Adding a point-of-use RO system at home reduces that level even further. It's the most effective at-home filtration technology available for particles at the nanoscale.
2. Stop Buying Bottled Water
The study's lead author put it plainly: tap water is the better choice. The plastic bottles themselves are a primary source of the contamination. Every bottle you skip is one less source of nanoplastic exposure — and less plastic waste, too.
3. Use Glass or Stainless Steel Containers
When storing filtered water, choose non-plastic containers. No point filtering out nanoplastics if you pour the clean water right back into a plastic pitcher.
4. Stay Informed
This is an active area of research. The Ohio State team's analytical techniques may soon help evaluate which treatment processes work best for nanoplastic removal, which could improve municipal water treatment down the road.
For a broader look at what contaminants might be in your specific water supply, the EWG's Tap Water Database lets you search by ZIP code.
RKIN Reverse Osmosis Systems: Built for This
At RKIN, we've been building reverse osmosis water filtration systems since 2009. While nanoplastics are a newer area of study, the technology that addresses them — membrane-based filtration at the molecular level — is exactly what our systems do.
Three options depending on your setup:
Zero Installation Purifier (Zero Installation Purifier)
Best for: Renters, apartments, anyone who wants RO filtration without plumbing changes.
The Zero Installation Purifier sits on your countertop, plugs into a standard outlet, and delivers reverse osmosis-filtered water with no installation. Certified by IAPMO R&T to NSF/ANSI 58 for the reduction of TDS, fluoride, lead, hexavalent chromium, PFOA/PFOS, and trivalent chromium. Available in AlcaPure (alkaline) and OnliPure (zero TDS) editions. Uses just 24W of power and has a 50% (1:1) recovery rate.
Fill, push the button, walk away. Half a gallon of purified water in about 15 minutes.
U1-W Space-Saving 4-in-1 System
Best for: Families who want filtered hot and cold water from one countertop unit.
The U1-W combines a 5-stage filtration system (sediment + carbon, RO membrane, alkaline remineralization, UV sterilization, and hydrogen infusion) in a single countertop design. Wi-Fi enabled with app control for monitoring water quality and filter status from your phone. Dispenses instant hot water (up to 200°F), cold water (down to 59°F/15°C), and room temperature — all from one unit, no plumbing required.
3rd-party tested for TDS, fluoride, lead, PFOA/PFOS, hexavalent chromium, and trivalent chromium reduction. See how the U1-W compares to expensive ionizer systems →
Flash Undersink RO System
Best for: Homeowners who want high-flow filtered water at the faucet, out of sight.
The Flash installs under your sink with an NSF/ANSI 58 certified 75 GPD reverse osmosis membrane. No electricity needed — it runs on your home's water pressure. Comes with a chrome lead-free faucet and a 3.2 gallon storage tank. Available in AlcaPure and OnliPure editions.
Hidden filtration. Clean water on demand.
Looking for long-term savings? Check out our 3-year system bundles that include replacement filters.
The Bottom Line
The Ohio State study adds to a growing body of evidence that nanoplastics are more widespread in our drinking water than we realized — and that bottled water, despite its "purity" marketing, is often a worse choice than filtered tap.
You can't control what's in your municipal water supply. But you can control the last step before water reaches your glass. Reverse osmosis is the most effective point-of-use technology for reducing nanoplastic particles, along with a wide range of other contaminants.
That's not marketing — that's membrane science.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does reverse osmosis remove nanoplastics from water?
Yes. RO membranes have pores around 0.0001 microns, while nanoplastics range from 0.001 to 1 micrometer. The particles are physically too large to pass through the membrane. Studies have shown RO systems remove 99.9% of micro- and nanoplastics from water.
Is bottled water safer than tap water for nanoplastics?
No — the Ohio State University study (February 2026) found bottled water contains 3x more nanoplastic particles than treated tap water. The plastic bottles themselves are a primary contamination source.
What's the difference between microplastics and nanoplastics?
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. Nanoplastics are a subset, measuring less than 1 micrometer (1/1000th of a millimeter). Nanoplastics are concerning because their small size may allow them to cross biological barriers in the body that larger particles cannot.
Can a regular water pitcher filter remove nanoplastics?
Most pitcher filters have pore sizes between 1-50 microns, which is far too large to catch nanoplastics. Only membrane-based filtration systems like reverse osmosis have pores small enough to block particles at the nanoscale.
Which RKIN system is best for nanoplastic removal?
All three RKIN reverse osmosis systems — the Zero Installation Purifier , U1-W , and Flash — use RO membranes that filter at the molecular level. The Zero Installation Purifier and U1-W are countertop systems that need no installation. The Flash installs under your sink.
How do nanoplastics get into drinking water?
Nanoplastics enter water through degradation of larger plastics, plastic packaging (as confirmed by the Ohio State study), industrial discharge, synthetic textile fibers from laundry, and water treatment infrastructure.
Sources
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Hart, M.J., et al. "A comparative analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in treated drinking water and bottled water." Science of the Total Environment, Volume 1011, 2026, Article 181148. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181148
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Ohio State University News. "Some bottled water worse than tap for microplastics, study shows." February 2026. news.osu.edu
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Hossain, M.B., et al. "Removal of microplastics and nanoplastics in water treatment processes: A systematic literature review." Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2024. sciencedirect.com
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Bevi. "Does reverse osmosis remove microplastics?" April 2025. bevi.co
RKIN has been making pure drinking water accessible to families since 2009. All RKIN reverse osmosis systems ship free within the Continental U.S. and are backed by a 1-year satisfaction guarantee. Questions? Call us at 1-800-803-4551 or live chat Mon–Fri, 9 AM–5 PM EST.
