Data for: Majority of potable water microplastics are smaller than the 20 µm EU methodology limit for consumable water quality

This dataset provides Raman spectral data for the identification of
microplastics (MPs) in potable water, collected from ten brands of
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottled water and one tap water sample.
The data includes Raman spectra in .sgd format (SpectraGryph Spectra File)
for all analyzed particles, facilitating reuse for studies focused on MP
identification and methodological validation. MP concentrations across the
samples varied from 19 to 1,154 particles per liter (n/L), corresponding
to 0.001 to 0.250 micrograms per liter (µg/L). While all bottled water
samples were stored in PET containers, PET contributed to only a minor
fraction of the identified MPs in the majority of cases. A total of 14
different synthetic polymer types were detected, highlighting the diverse
composition of microplastics in potable water. Notably, 98% of detected
MPs were smaller than 20 µm, and 94% were below 10 µm, emphasizing the
critical need to include smaller MPs in potable water assessments and
regulatory frameworks.