The Water Test Podcast
Microplastics are in your tap water, your bottled water, and your body. We test it, count it, and tell you what we find.
Episodes
Episode 5 · Apr 9, 2026
Illuminating the Invisible: How Nile Red Finds Microplastics
How do scientists find plastic particles smaller than a sesame seed? With a chemical spotlight. This episode unpacks the Nile Red staining method — the fluorescent dye that ignores water and glass but latches onto plastic and lights it up under UV. We cover solvatochromism (the "chemical chameleon" switch), the oil-vs-water polarity trick that makes it work, the Goldilocks dye concentration, and why this cheap, fast, lab-friendly technique became the global screening tool for microplastics research. It's the same method we use at The Water Test to count particles in your tap and bottled water.
Episode 4 · Apr 6, 2026
Stop Drinking Microplastics From Your Tap
A quick brief on what microplastics are doing to your body — from arterial plaque to brain tissue — and what we found testing LA tap water.
Episode 3 · Apr 5, 2026
The Hidden Plastic in Bottled Water
What's really in that bottle of water you just bought? We dig into the research on microplastics in bottled water brands, how they compare to tap water, and what the industry doesn't want you to know.
Episode 1 · Apr 4, 2026
Seven Grams of Plastic in Your Brain
Scientists found an average of 7 grams of microplastics in human brain tissue. Where does it come from? How does it get there? And what does it mean for your water?
Episode 2 · Apr 4, 2026
240,000 Plastic Particles in Bottled Water
A new study found an average of 240,000 nanoplastic particles per liter of bottled water. We break down the research, what it means for the brands you drink, and whether your tap water is any better.