LOS ANGELES — Plastic has not only been polluting the seas and oceans, but also most of the world's tap water, according to a new study. <br /> <br />According to an investigation by Orb Media, scientists tested water samples from a dozen countries on five different continents, and found that 83% contained microscopic plastic fibers. <br /> <br />The U.S. had the highest contamination rate at 94%, while Europe fared better at 72%. <br /> <br />The microscopic fragments are believed to be from clothes, plastic waste, tire dust, microbeads, and paint that have been flushed into water systems. <br /> <br />Synthetic fibers shed from clothes and carpets have also been known to contaminate the air and eventually make it to waterways. <br /> <br />Microplastics have been known to contain toxic chemicals, which could be released into the body when ingested. <br /> <br />Many studies have explored the impact of microscopic plastic particles on marine life, but none so far have focused directly on human health. <br /> <br />With the current state of Earth's plastic pollution though, someone had better get on it.
