The best water softeners Henley has to offer can make the best from your homes drinking water – meaning you don’t need to rely on the cost – both monetary and environmentally – of bottled water. However, interesting research has come to light in the past week which has found that plastic fibres can be found in ‘most’ drinking water.

According to The Guardian, ‘microplastic contamination’ has been found in countries around the world, including the US and Europe. The research, conducted by Orb Media, tested samples for dozens of countries around the world and found that plastic was present in 83 per cent.

The US had the highest rate of contamination at 94 per cent, as well as the most fibres per 500 ml sample at 4.8. Europe had the lowest rate of contamination, while still high at 72 per cent, with just 1.9 samples in every 500 ml sample.

From the research, scientists have called for urgent studies into what the effect of this plastic contamination will be on the human body.

Previous research, conducted on a small scale in Ireland showed the same problem, with Dr Anne Marie Mahon at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, who led the study, saying: “We don’t know what the [health] impact is and for that reason we should follow the precautionary principle and put enough effort into it now, immediately, so we can find out what the real risks are.”

Microplastics can absorb toxins when in the water supply, and may release them into the body when ingested, either by humans or animals.