If you saw the headlines this week and thought, “Wait, what?! Glass bottles are WORSE than plastic now!!??” — you’re not alone.
A viral new study just flipped the script on what we thought we knew about microplastics. Glass bottles (yes, glass) were found to contain 5 to 50 times more microplastics than plastic bottles.
But before you toss your glass water bottle into the recycling bin and reach for plastic, let’s break down what this study actually showed… and what it didn’t!
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What the Study Actually Found
Researchers in France tested drinks, like water, soda, iced tea, beer, and wine, sold in glass bottles, plastic bottles, and cans.
The surprise? Beverages in glass bottles had the highest levels of microplastics.
On average, drinks like cola and beer in glass bottles had around 100 particles per liter, while their plastic and canned counterparts had far fewer (sometimes as little as 2 particles per liter).
But here’s the key insight most headlines skipped:
👉 The microplastics might not have been from the glass.
👉 They are most likely coming from the painted metal caps that seal the bottles.
Tiny flakes of paint were rubbing off the caps before the drinks even hit store shelves. That’s what was ending up in your drink — not the glass itself.
In fact, the researchers found that when bottle caps were cleaned (with either air or alcohol rinses), microplastics dropped by more than 60%!
So… does that mean we should stop drinking from glass bottles?
Not quite. Let’s zoom out.
What the Headlines Didn’t Tell You
1. Glass still beats plastic on chemical leaching
Plastic bottles might have fewer floating plastic bits (according to this one study), but they can leach BPA, phthalates, and other hormone-disrupting chemicals — especially when heated or reused. Glass doesn’t do that. So while you might drink fewer microplastics from plastic bottles, you’re potentially exposing yourself to a different class of toxins.
2. The actual microplastic amounts were still pretty low in water
Even the most contaminated glass-bottled water had just 4.5 microplastic particles per liter. Plastic bottled water had 1.6. Compared to how many particles you’re breathing in every day (more on that below), this difference is small. So, at least when it came to water, the total microplastic count was relatively low.
Sure, the non-water beverages like soda, iced tea, and beer had on average 100 microplastic particles per liter, even in glass bottles, so that is still concerning. Basically, water is the best choice.
3. This isn’t just about bottles — microplastics are everywhere
Microplastics aren’t just in drinks. They’re in your air, your dust, our food supply. Why is that important? Because people are freaking out about a few microplastics in our glass water when the issue is much, much bigger.
According to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology,
Americans are estimated to inhale and ingest between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles per year — or roughly 200 to 330 particles every single day. And that’s just an average for breathing, not including food. And it could be more in big cities!
A glass bottle of water that has 4.5 microplastic particles is a tiny drop in the ocean compared to what we’re all being exposed to on a daily basis through our air and food.
And we shouldn’t freak out about beverages in glass, especially water; instead, we should take diligent steps to minimize our total exposure while also acknowledging that we’re all just doing the best we can in this plastic soup we live in.
Try This: 3 Ways to Cut Microplastic Exposure
✅ 1. Filter your water at home (don’t rely on bottled)
Reverse osmosis systems typically remove 99.9% of microplastics. My favorite is AquaTru (I’m also excited to try the Rorra filter, which is all metal).
When it comes to bottles, use a glass or steel thermos, and skip the painted lids if possible. Oh, and don’t dishwash your plastic lids; heating them in a dishwasher makes them shed more plastic.
When it comes to selecting water in glass, we also talked to a microplastics expert, Dr. Sergio Sanchez, Senior Vice President at IEH Laboratories, who said that the deeper the aquifer, typically the less the contaminants. So if you are going to choose bottled water, look for brands that use deep aquifers.
My personal preferred brand is Mountain Valley Spring Water, which is from a deep aquifer (1,600 feet) in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas.
✅ 2. Upgrade your indoor air quality
Indoor air can be up to 300x more polluted than outdoor air. Invest in a HEPA filter, especially for bedrooms. These capture particles as small as 0.3 microns, including many microplastics. And set reminders to change your filters often. My favorite air filter is AirDoctor.
✅ 3. Double down on the detox basics
You can’t eliminate all plastic exposure — but you can support your body’s detox systems. Whole foods. Daily movement. High-quality sleep. Sauna if you can (which may help excrete BPA through sweat). These basics matter more than ever.
Final Thoughts
I’m glad this study went viral — because microplastics deserve more attention. But it also showed how easily panic headlines can miss the full story.
The goal isn’t to avoid every speck of plastic, good luck trying! It’s to be informed, take smarter actions, and reduce exposure where it matters most.
So stay curious. Stay proactive. And stay hydrated — from the cleanest container you can.
Here’s to your health,
Dhru Purohit
P.S. For any entrepreneurs out there who are developing products and are looking for a laboratory to help them test their supply chain when it comes to microplastics, BPAs, polyurethanes, PFAS, and other chemicals, I highly recommend working with Sergio Sanchez at IEH Laboratories.