Understanding microplastics in water: Fact vs. fiction

Arcadis Director of Applied Research Brent Alspach discusses the ongoing fact-finding mission in the water industry regarding microplastics, urging careful consideration of their potential risks and the need for more scientific understanding.

Mandy Crispin

Bob Crossen

June 12, 2025

While microplastics are detected nearly everywhere, including the human body, Arcadis Vice President and Director of Applied Research Brent Alspach cautions against conflating their occurrence with proven risk. He explains that the water industry is currently on a "major fact-finding mission" regarding microplastics due to significant knowledge gaps and that the current science does not yet fully support the conclusion that microplastics are dangerous simply because they are present.

Until more scientific understanding emerges regarding their exact dangers and mechanisms, he advises individuals concerned about microplastics to minimize their exposure to plastics generally. The Water Research Foundation offers communications resources (Project 5155) published in the previous year to help communicate information about microplastics to the public.

(Editor's note: The description for this video was written with the assistance of generative AI.)

Additional Resources

Drinking Water Treatment

Getting started on microplastics: A contaminant unlike any other

A multi-utility pilot program aims to pull back the curtain on microplastics.

June 11, 2025

About the Author

Mandy Crispin

Mandy Crispin is the editor-in-chief of WaterWorld magazine and co-host of water industry podcast Talking Under Water. She can be reached at [email protected].

Bob Crossen

Editorial Director

Bob Crossen is the editorial director for WaterWorld Magazine, Wastewater Digest, Stormwater Solutions, and Water Quality Products, which compose the Endeavor Business Media Water Group. Crossen graduated from Illinois State University in Dec. 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in German and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He has worked in business-to-business journalism covering the drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and point-of-use/point-of-entry markets since April or 2016. Crossen can be reached at [email protected] or 847.954.7980.