For many weeks now, the media have been addressing a subject that concerns us all: the quality of tap water and its impact on our health. But beyond the immediate risks, an essential dimension is emerging from scientific research: the effect of micropollutants on our gut microbiome, the microbial ecosystem upon which much of our immunity and hormonal balance depends.
What Official Data Reveals
PFAS (the "forever chemicals"), microplastics, heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues, pesticides and their metabolites, volatile organic compounds, perchlorates... Infinitesimal traces from agriculture, industry, or our daily use, whose impact on health is beginning to be documented and proven.
Official data collected across Europe confirms that even when "potable", tap water can contain invisible contaminants, imperceptible to the naked eye, yet very real.
"Potable" Water Is Not Always Microbiome-Friendly Water
In Europe, health authorities set precise thresholds to guarantee water potability. These standards ensure that distributed water does not present an immediate health risk, but they do not guarantee either its absolute purity or its long-term safety — particularly regarding our intestinal flora.
Each year, several thousand samples show that tap water can contain, even in trace amounts, several hundred different chemical substances. Among them:
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nitrates from intensive agriculture,
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pharmaceutical residues (hormones, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories),
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PFAS, these "forever chemicals" that accumulate in organisms,
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microplastics, now detected in more than 90% of samples in Europe,
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heavy metals (lead, copper, mercury), released from old pipes,
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and pesticides and their metabolites, some of which regularly exceed reference values.
These pollutants are often present in infinitesimal quantities, well below regulatory thresholds. However, scientists are highlighting a risk of cumulative chronic exposure, with a direct impact on our intestinal ecosystem: as they accumulate in the body, these substances can alter microbiome diversity, disrupt the endocrine system, affect the liver, or impair immune defences.
Their impact therefore does not lie in the isolated dose, but in daily repetition.
An Expert's Warning: Microbiome, Hormones and Persistent Pollutants • Dr. Christian Boyer
Dr Christian Boyer, trained Dietitian-Nutritionist, Doctor of Health Biology, consultant, speaker and trainer in the field of health: "Human exposure to certain compounds such as microplastics has a negative impact on the intestinal microbiota. These particles, particularly present in tap water, can reduce microbial diversity, promote the proliferation of potentially harmful bacteria and directly alter the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. The effects of chronic exposure to these substances remain insufficiently evaluated, but could have lasting repercussions on intestinal and systemic health.
At the same time, perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) — known for their environmental persistence — are clearly identified as endocrine disruptors in humans and animals. Their exposure is associated with altered thyroid function and decreased production of androgenic hormones, particularly testosterone.
Similarly, several heavy metals (such as mercury, cadmium or lead) can modify sex hormone levels and interfere with normal thyroid function.
In general, the thyroid appears to be one of the organs most vulnerable to persistent environmental pollutants (PFAS, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.), due to its high metabolic activity, its capacity for iodine concentration and its sensitivity to oxidative stress and hormonal disruptions."
This scientific observation raises an essential question: how can we protect our microbiome and hormonal balance against this chronic exposure?
The Answer: Molecular-Scale Filtration to Preserve the Microbiome
It is in this context that Sküma Water has recently been highlighted as a scientific and practical response to this issue.
Its system combines three purification stages inspired by the medical field:
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Sedimentary pre-filtration — retains visible particles (sand, rust, limescale).
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High-quality activated carbon from coconut fibre — captures chlorine, VOCs, heavy metals and certain pesticides and PFAS.
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Reverse osmosis — a 0.0001 micron membrane eliminates up to 99.9% of invisible contaminants, including microplastics, pharmaceutical residues and PFAS.
Cutting-edge technology to produce exceptionally pure water, now accessible at home, and capable of protecting the integrity of the intestinal microbiome.
Proven Results, Demonstrated Protection
In February 2025, the Sküma Super-Filter was tested and certified by an independent COFRAC-accredited French laboratory.
Unrivalled results:
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More than 230 molecules tested
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99.99% elimination of all contaminants
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Including 165 pesticides, 20 PFAS, 98% of microplastics, as well as pharmaceutical residues and heavy metals.
By eliminating these substances, Sküma Water helps preserve microbial diversity and reduce endocrine disruptions linked to drinking water.
After Purification: Remineralisation to Support Intestinal Health
Perfectly filtered water must also be living and functional, capable of supporting cellular hydration and microbiome balance.
This is why Sküma completes its process with intelligent remineralisation: the MY™ Bases profiles reintroduce calcium, magnesium and potassium, to restore electrolyte balance and support cellular hydration — two key elements for a healthy microbiome.
Protecting Your Microbiome Starts with the Water You Drink
Standards guarantee safety, but not microbiome protection. Given the growing scientific data on the impact of micropollutants on our intestinal flora and hormonal balance, applying the precautionary principle to our hydration seems essential.
Only molecular-scale filtration, combined with controlled remineralisation, makes it possible to obtain truly healthy, balanced water that respects our intestinal ecosystem.
With its triple filtration technology and certified results, Sküma Water embodies a new generation of purification: one that connects science, transparency and lasting microbiome protection.
Further reading:
Microplastics and human health: unveiling the gut microbiome disruption and chronic disease risks
