Science
Researchers find convenience, drinking water access and advertising drive global bottled water consumption
Over 1 million plastic water bottles are bought globally every minute. That translates into more than 1.3 billion every day and more than 500 billion every year.
AI Summary
A global survey of more than 15,000 respondents across 81 countries found that bottled‑water consumption is driven by demographic, infrastructure and geographic factors such as age, education level, access to drinking water and exposure to advertising. Researchers reported that over one million plastic water bottles are purchased worldwide each minute, equating to more than 1.3 billion daily and over 500 billion annually. They noted that much of this plastic ends up in human bodies and landfills, with preliminary studies indicating nano‑ and microplastics accumulating in the liver, kidneys and intestines, though long‑term health effects remain uncertain.
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