Which Bottled Water Brands Have the Most Microplastics?

TL;DR: Independent lab tests found microplastic particles in nearly every major bottled water brand sold in the US — including Aquafina, Dasani, Fiji and Nestlé Pure Life. The differences between brands are smaller than you'd hope, which is why a cap-style filter beats brand-switching.

This page is part of our pillar guide on microplastics in bottled water. Here we focus on one specific question: do some bottled water brands contain more microplastics than others — and does it matter which one you buy?

The study that put bottled water brands on the map

In 2018, researchers at the State University of New York at Fredonia, working with the journalism nonprofit Orb Media, tested 259 bottles from 11 brands sold in 9 countries. The result made global headlines: 93% of the bottles contained microplastic particles. The study used Nile Red dye to count plastic fragments under fluorescent light.

The full peer-reviewed paper was later published as Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water in Frontiers in Chemistry. You can read the original study summary on the Wikipedia entry on microplastics, which references the Mason et al. findings.

The numbers below are from that study. They are particles per liter, averaged across the bottles tested for each brand.

Microplastics by brand: the 2018 results

The headline number people quote — 10,390 particles per liter — came from a single bottle of Nestlé Pure Life. That's the maximum, not the average. But even the cleaner brands averaged hundreds of fragments per liter once smaller particles were counted.

What the numbers actually mean

Two things matter here. First, the >100 µm count is what most studies traditionally report — particles you could in theory see under a basic microscope. Second, the smaller fragments (6.5–100 µm) show up in dramatically higher counts and are the ones researchers worry about most because they may cross biological membranes. For more on that question, see our deep dive on whether microplastics in water are bad for you.

Brand-by-brand: what we know about each

Aquafina (PepsiCo)

Aquafina is purified municipal tap water bottled in PET. In the Mason study, it averaged 13 particles/L over 100 µm and roughly 1,295 particles/L when smaller fragments were counted. PepsiCo responded that the test methodology was not industry-standard. PET fragments and polypropylene (the cap material) were the most common polymers identified.

Dasani (Coca-Cola)

Dasani averaged 14 particles/L (>100 µm) and around 335 particles/L total — among the lower counts in the study. It's also purified tap water in PET bottles. Coca-Cola disputed the methodology but did not publish counter-data.

Fiji Water

Fiji wasn't part of the original 11-brand Mason study, but follow-up reporting and consumer-led tests have repeatedly found microplastic fragments in Fiji bottles, in the same general range as other PET-bottled brands. The premium price and "artesian" source don't appear to translate into measurably cleaner water at the microplastic level.

Nestlé Pure Life

Nestlé Pure Life had the highest single-bottle reading in the entire 2018 study: 10,390 particles per liter. Its average was also the highest at 75 particles/L (>100 µm). Nestlé pushed back on methodology but later acknowledged the broader issue of microplastics in food and water.

Evian, San Pellegrino, Gerolsteiner

The European spring and mineral waters generally tested lower than the American purified-tap brands on the >100 µm count, but still carried hundreds of smaller fragments per liter. Glass-bottled versions weren't part of this study.

Why the differences are smaller than they look

It's tempting to read the table and switch from Nestlé Pure Life to San Pellegrino. But three things complicate that move:

• The bottle itself sheds plastic. Studies show particles increase the longer water sits in PET, especially in heat. Source water purity is only half the story.
• The cap is a major source. Polypropylene fragments from the cap and the act of opening the bottle were among the most common polymers identified. Every brand uses similar caps.
• Single-bottle variation is huge. One bottle of a "clean" brand can have more particles than another bottle of a "dirty" brand. Averages hide this.

For context on how those particles get there in the first place, read how microplastics get into bottled water. For the broader exposure picture, see how many microplastics are in a typical bottle.

So which brand should you buy?

Honest answer: the brand choice matters less than people think. Even the lowest-count brand in the Mason study still averaged dozens of particles per liter on the conservative count and hundreds on the inclusive count. If your goal is to actually reduce microplastic intake from bottled water, you have two real options:

1. Stop drinking bottled water. Tap water through a certified filter is usually lower in microplastics — though not always. See our comparison: bottled vs tap water microplastics.
2. Filter the bottle you already drink from. A cap-style filter that screws onto a standard plastic bottle removes microplastics on the way out, regardless of brand. That's what Clear Flow does — see the cap-style filter guide.

The bottom line on bottled water brands

The 2018 SUNY Fredonia study remains the most cited brand-comparison data on microplastics in bottled water. It found particles in nearly every bottle tested, with Nestlé Pure Life at the high end and San Pellegrino at the low end. But "low end" still meant dozens to hundreds of particles per liter. No mainstream PET-bottled brand tested clean. Switching brands moves the number a little. Filtering the water moves it a lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bottled water brand has the most microplastics?

In the 2018 SUNY Fredonia / Orb Media study, Nestlé Pure Life had the highest average microplastic count at about 75 particles per liter over 100 µm. One single bottle measured 10,390 particles per liter when smaller fragments were included — the highest reading in the study.

Does Aquafina have microplastics?

Yes. The 2018 study found Aquafina contained an average of 13 microplastic particles per liter over 100 µm, and roughly 1,295 particles per liter when smaller fragments were counted. PepsiCo disputed the methodology but did not publish counter-data.

Is Fiji water free of microplastics?

No. Despite its premium positioning and artesian source, follow-up tests have found microplastic particles in Fiji water bottles in the same general range as other PET-bottled brands. The source water doesn't prevent contamination from the bottle and cap.

Which bottled water has the least microplastics?

In the Mason study, San Pellegrino had the lowest average count at 5 particles per liter over 100 µm. But it still averaged around 74 particles per liter when smaller fragments were counted, so no major brand tested truly clean.

Is glass-bottled water free of microplastics?

Glass bottles avoid PET shedding from the container itself, but caps, gaskets and the bottling process can still introduce particles. Glass-bottled water typically tests lower than PET, but it is not microplastic-free.

Does switching brands actually reduce my microplastic intake?

A little, but less than people expect. The cleanest brand still averaged dozens to hundreds of particles per liter, and single-bottle variation is large. Filtering the water you drink has a much bigger impact than switching brands.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Test data referenced is from the 2018 SUNY Fredonia / Orb Media study and follow-up reporting.