Bottom line: Brita filters are not certified to remove microplastics. Their activated-carbon pitchers and faucet attachments target lead, chlorine, mercury, and cadmium — the company does not publish microplastic removal data or hold NSF/ANSI P473 (the microplastic-specific certification).

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What Brita Actually Removes

  • Standard Brita pitcher (white filter): Certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for chlorine, taste/odor, zinc, copper, mercury, and cadmium.
  • Brita Elite Longlast+ (blue filter): Adds lead reduction (~99%) and lasts 6 months vs. 2 months.
  • Pore size: Activated carbon doesn’t have a fixed pore size the way membrane filters do — particles are trapped by adsorption, not by physical sieving. Some microplastic fragments stick to the carbon by chance, but fibers (the dominant form in tap water) generally pass through.
  • No NSF/ANSI P473 or 401 certification. P473 is the microplastic-specific standard. Brita doesn’t carry it on any pitcher in their consumer line.

A 2018 global tap water study found 81% of samples contained microplastic fibers averaging 5 particles per liter in the US. Brita’s filter design was never engineered for this contaminant class.

Brita by model — what each one is certified for

Different Brita products carry different certifications. None of them currently cover microplastics, but they’re not all equivalent for the contaminants they do address.

Model Filter color Certified for Microplastic claim
Brita Standard White NSF 42, 53 (chlorine, mercury, cadmium, copper, zinc) None
Brita Elite Longlast+ Blue NSF 42, 53, 401 (adds lead, benzene, BPA, some pharmaceuticals) None
Brita Stream Gray NSF 42 (chlorine, taste, odor only — fast-flow, less contact time) None
Brita Hub countertop N/A NSF 42, 53, 401, 244 None — closest to microplastic-relevant but not P473 certified
Brita faucet attachment N/A NSF 42, 53, 401 None

The takeaway: Elite Longlast+ is the version worth keeping if you already own a Brita pitcher — it has the broadest certification list. Stream is the weakest, despite being the most marketed.

What You Can Do

  1. Keep your Brita for lead and chlorine. Especially if you have older pipes, the Elite Longlast+ does useful work — just don’t rely on it for microplastics. Brita Elite Longlast+ pitcher is the version that catches lead.
  2. Add a microplastic-rated pitcher. LifeStraw Home pitcher uses a 0.2-micron hollow-fiber membrane that physically blocks microplastic particles. Same fridge-door form factor as a Brita.
  3. Upgrade to RO if you want everything in one unit. AquaTru Countertop RO removes >99% of microplastics plus lead, PFAS, fluoride, and chlorine — no plumbing required. Compare in our best water filter for microplastics guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Brita remove microplastics from tap water?
No. Brita does not hold NSF/ANSI P473 certification (the microplastic standard) and does not publish microplastic removal data. Their activated-carbon filters are designed for chlorine, lead, and heavy metals — not plastic fibers or fragments.
What's the best alternative to Brita for microplastics?
The LifeStraw Home pitcher is the closest drop-in replacement — same form factor, but a 0.2-micron hollow-fiber membrane that’s actually rated for microplastic-sized particles. For maximum removal, a reverse osmosis system like AquaTru handles microplastics, nanoplastics, PFAS, and lead in one unit.
Do Brita Stream or Brita Hub filters catch microplastics?
Neither model carries NSF/ANSI P473 certification for microplastics. The Stream uses fast-flow activated carbon (less contact time, less adsorption) and the Hub adds an RO-adjacent stage but isn’t specifically certified for microplastics either. For the microplastic claim, look at LifeStraw or a true RO system.
Does the Brita Elite Longlast+ remove microplastics?
The Elite Longlast+ (blue filter) is Brita’s most certified pitcher — NSF 42, 53, and 401 for lead, chlorine, mercury, BPA, and some pharmaceuticals. It still does not carry NSF/ANSI P473 (the microplastic standard) and Brita does not publish microplastic-specific removal data for it. Useful for lead; not the right tool for microplastics.
Will a Brita faucet filter catch more microplastics than a pitcher?
No. Brita faucet attachments use the same activated-carbon mechanism as the pitchers, just inline. They carry NSF 42, 53, and 401 certifications — not P473. Pore size and removal mechanism are the same as the pitcher line.
How long does it take to add a microplastic-rated filter alongside a Brita?
About five minutes. Keep the Brita on the counter for lead and chlorine, and add a LifeStraw Home pitcher (same fridge-door form factor) or a countertop RO unit for drinking water. Most readers run both in parallel — see our pillar comparison for which combination fits your budget.

For the full comparison of pitchers, countertop, and under-sink systems, see our best water filter for removing microplastics in 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Source: Kosuth, M., Mason, S. A., & Wattenberg, E. V. “Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt.” PLOS ONE, Volume 13, Issue 4, 2018. DOI