Overview

• ANSES researchers analyzed 56 beverage samples including soft drinks, water, iced tea, lemonade, beer and wine to inventory microplastic levels across packaging types.
• Glass-bottled samples averaged nearly 100 particles per liter, while plastic-bottled versions measured approximately 2 to 4 particles per liter.
• Contamination varied by beverage type, with beer showing about 83 particles per liter, water around 3 particles per liter and wine registering minimal levels despite similar caps.
• Polymer composition and color tests confirmed that particles in glass bottles matched the paint coatings on their caps.
• A cap-cleaning routine of blowing and rinsing with water and alcohol reduced microplastics by up to 60 percent, but variability across beverage types remains unexplained.