It’s estimated that the average person consumes a credit card's worth of plastic every week. That’s right, a credit card. This unsettling statistic, highlighted by a 2019 study commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and carried out by the University of Newcastle, Australia, underscores a pervasive and often invisible threat: microplastics in our food and water. We’re talking about plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, some even microscopic, that are now ubiquitous in our environment. 
Given this alarming reality, many of us turn to water filters, hoping for a simple solution. Brita filters are a popular choice, readily available and seemingly effective. But do they actually defend us against these tiny invaders? That’s what we set out to discover. At KnowYourExposure.com, we understand your concern, and we believe in providing clear, evidence-based answers.
Microplastics are everywhere. They originate from larger plastic debris that breaks down over time, from microbeads in personal care products, and from synthetic textiles shedding fibers during washing. They’ve been found in oceans, rivers, soil, air, and, most disturbingly, in our drinking water. The sheer scale of microplastic pollution is staggering, with some estimates suggesting trillions of plastic particles contaminating our planet.
Think about the clothes you’re wearing right now if they’re synthetic. Every time you wash them, tiny plastic fibers shed and go down the drain. Cosmetic products containing microbeads, now largely banned but still present in older products and the environment, once contributed significantly. The breakdown of larger plastic items – bottles, bags, packaging – under sunlight, wind, and waves also continuously feeds the microplastic pool. 
While the full extent of microplastic exposure on human health is still under investigation, the potential risks are a serious concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2019 that while current data suggests no immediate health hazard from microplastics in drinking water, more research is needed to understand the long-term effects. However, studies have identified microplastics in human organs, including lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys (Ragusa et al., 2021, Environment International). We know that plastics can leach harmful chemicals, and it’s plausible that microplastics could act as carriers for these chemicals into our bodies. Furthermore, the physical presence of these particles, even if inert, could potentially cause inflammation or other adverse cellular responses. The issue becomes even more complex when considering nanoplastics, which are even smaller and could potentially cross biological barriers more easily.
Before we get to whether they actually catch microplastics, let’s quickly recap how Brita filters are designed to work. Most Brita filters utilize a combination of activated carbon and ion-exchange resin. The activated carbon is excellent at trapping organic impurities, chlorine, and some pesticides, which significantly improves the taste and odor of tap water. The ion-exchange resin typically targets heavy metals like lead and reduces water hardness.
Brita’s official website states their filters reduce contaminants such as chlorine, mercury, copper, cadmium, and zinc. Some of their advanced filters also claim to reduce industrial pollutants, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. It’s important to note that microplastics are not explicitly listed on their standard filter reduction claims. This omission alone might raise a red flag for those specifically concerned about microscopic plastic particles.
So do Brita filters remove microplastics? The honest answer, based on how the filters are built and what independent research has found, is: not reliably, and not by design.
Start with the mechanism. A Brita filter pairs activated carbon with an ion-exchange resin. Both target dissolved substances, chlorine, some metals, hardness, rather than physically straining out particles. A standard Brita isn't a fine mechanical barrier the way a reverse osmosis membrane or a tight-micron carbon block is, so there's no design reason to expect it to capture the full range of microplastic sizes, and Brita doesn't certify its pitchers for microplastic removal.
That said, "not designed for it" isn't the same as "does nothing." Independent studies of carbon and pitcher-style filters have found they can incidentally trap some larger microplastic particles, simply because bigger fragments get caught in the media. The problem is the small end of the range. The finer particles, and especially nanoplastics, are the ones most likely to slip straight through, and they're also the ones research suggests are most able to enter the body. A filter that catches the big pieces but not the small ones leaves the most concerning fraction in your glass.
The takeaway: if microplastics are specifically what you're worried about, a Brita is not the tool to rely on.
For dependable microplastic reduction, the technology matters more than the brand:
Our reverse osmosis vs. carbon block guide breaks down which fits your setup, and if you want to see how the pitchers compare on other contaminants, we ranked the major brands in Brita vs. PUR vs. ZeroWater.
Not reliably. Brita's carbon and ion-exchange design targets dissolved contaminants like chlorine and metals, not fine particles, and the company doesn't certify its pitchers for microplastic removal. They may incidentally trap some larger particles, but the smallest and most concerning fragments tend to pass through.
Reverse osmosis is the most effective, because its membrane blocks particles far smaller than microplastics. A fine carbon block (0.5 micron or below) or a quality gravity filter also reduces them substantially. Standard pitchers are the least effective.
The Longlast/Elite cartridge adds NSF-certified lead reduction, but that certification is for lead, not microplastics. Like the standard cartridge, it isn't certified for microplastic removal, so don't rely on it for that.
It may catch some larger particles, so it isn't zero benefit, but it leaves the fine particles and nanoplastics that matter most. If microplastics are your main concern, step up to reverse osmosis or a tight carbon block rather than counting on a pitcher.
Check your water quality by zip code to see what contaminants have been found in your water. Find water filters that remove PFAS – reverse osmosis and carbon block systems also reduce microplastics. Microplastics aren't the only invisible threat – read our PFAS contamination guide to learn about forever chemicals.
Check your water now. Enter your zip code at KnowYourExposure.com to see what contaminants have been detected in your local water supply – including PFAS, lead, and other regulated compounds.