When it comes to getting your daily fill of water, the safest option is from a store-bought bottle, right? Well, new research suggests that isn’t true. In fact, tap water could actually be the much safer option of the two in most areas of the world.

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According to researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar, bottled water in the US is often not subject to the same rigorous quality and safety checks as tap water, meaning it can carry more harmful chemicals leaching in from the plastic bottles.

It is estimated that between 10 and 78 percent of bottled water samples contain contaminants, including microplastics and various other substances including phthalates (chemicals used to make plastics more durable). Microplastic contamination is associated with oxidative stress, immune system dysregulation, and changes in fat levels.

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The researchers also highlight how tap water is a greener option. With a million bought every minute around the globe, plastic water bottles currently make up the second most common ocean pollutant (only behind plastic bags), accounting for 12 per cent of all plastic waste.

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