Orb Media has reported that tests carried out on more than 250 water bottles from major global brands found that 93% of them contain microplastic particles.

The tiny particles came from plastics such as polypropylene, nylon and polyethylene terephthalate, more commonly known as PET.

Plastic particle concentration in the water bottle samples ranged from zero to 10,000 per litre. The global average was 325 particles.

It is not known what impact consuming microplastics has on human health.

Orb Media’s research was supervised by Dr Sherri Mason, chair of New York State University’s Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences.

The study involved buying bottled water packs from 11 international brands, such as Evian, Bisleri, Epura, Pure Life, San Pellegrino and Dasani.

“Plastic particle concentration in the water bottle samples ranged from zero to 10,000 per litre. The global average was 325 particles.”

The samples came from 19 locations in nine countries on five continents, ranging from Brazil, India, Kenya and the US.

The majority of the samples were plastic bottles, but the study recorded that glass bottles also contained microplastics.

Orb media is a non-profit media and communications organisation that undertakes original research and analysis before reporting on its findings and how they affect people across the world.

It publishes its work simultaneously with a global network of leading media organisations who are members of the Orb Media Network.

Orb Media Network members include the BBC, CBC, Deutsche Welle, The Hindu and Tempo Media Group.