This Leafy Superfood Could Remove 98% of Microplastics From Your Drinking Water, Study Finds

Microplastics, despite being so small that they’re nearly invisible to the naked eye, are becoming a major problem. Study after study has found them in surprising places, including fish in some of the world’s most remote waters, vegetables freshly plucked from the ground, and even in multiple parts of the human body. And, unsurprisingly, they’ve wound up in our drinking water. But now, scientists believe they may have an answer, at least for the microplastics lurking in our water. And it’s all thanks to Mother Nature.

Researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology of São Paulo State University recently shared findings from their work, published in the journal ACS Omega, showing that moringa, the leafy superfood already well loved in wellness circles, may be able to pull microplastics from drinking water.

To understand how moringa can help remove microplastics, the team created a saline extract from moringa seeds and then added polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics to tap water. The team explained that PVC was chosen because it’s among the most hazardous plastic types, has known mutagenic and carcinogenic properties, persists in both surface water and treated drinking water, and represents about 12.8% of total global plastic production.