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 dive into our lab results, 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.
To address the question of whether Brita filters remove microplastics, the Know Your Exposure Research Team conducted independent laboratory testing. We obtained new, standard Brita filters (specifically, the Brita Standard Filter and the Brita Longlast+ Filter) and subjected them to rigorous testing.
We prepared a controlled water sample artificially contaminated with various sizes and types of microplastics, ranging from 1 micron to 500 microns. These included polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) particles – common plastics found in the environment. We used a standardized concentration to ensure reproducible results. Our control group consisted of the contaminated water sample without filtration.
We ran the contaminated water through the Brita pitchers according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We collected water samples before filtration (influent) and after filtration (effluent) for both filter types over a defined period, ensuring we accounted for the filter
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.
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