Yahoo Lifestyle Your Tea Bag Could Be Releasing Billions Of Microplastics Into Your Mug, New Study Suggests
Unfortunately, a growing body of research has detected contaminants and microplastics pretty much everywhere, including our tap water. Now, new research has detected microplastics in yet another common spot: tea bags.
The study, which was published in the journal Chemosphere in December, is raising a lot of questions about the safety of using disposable tea bags. Here’s what researchers found, plus how to protect yourself, according to a toxicologist.
Meet the experts: Jamie Alan, PhD, is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. Darin Detwiler is a food safety expert, author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions, and professor at Northeastern University.
What did the study find?
For the study, researchers tested tea bags that were made from common packagings like nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose. Using new scanning technology, the scientists discovered that pretty much all of those polymers released huge amounts of microplastics.
Those plastic particles were then stained and exposed to different types of cancerous human intestinal cells. The researchers discovered that mucus-producing cells in the intestines took in the highest amount of microplastics, with contaminants even entering the nucleus of the cell, which holds genetic material.
Does tea have microplastics?
Based on this study, yes, tea brewed with standard tea bags may contain microplastics. Research also suggests microplastics are often found in tap and bottled water.
Which kind of packaging releases the most microplastics?
Based on the study’s findings, bags made from polypropylene released the most.
Specifically, polypropylene released about 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, cellulose released roughly 135 million particles per milliliter, and nylon-6 released 8.18 million particles per milliliter.
Why are microplastics bad?
That’s still being discovered. “We don’t fully understand the health consequences of microplastics,” says Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.
However, research has suggested microplastics aren’t great to ingest. “We know they can cause damage in various organs like your lungs, and they may disrupt steroid synthesis,” Alan says. “They can also disrupt your gut microbiome.”
Microplastics can also cause inflammation and endocrine disruption, according to Darin Detwiler, food safety expert, author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions, and a professor at Northeastern University.
"On a larger scale, the prevalence of microplastics threatens food security, as their infiltration into agricultural soil, water, and packaging could erode trust in staple food products and disrupt sustainability," he says.
How can I avoid microplastics in tea?
Given that microplastics are also found in tap water, it may be tough to entirely avoid them. Still, you can do a few things to try to lower the levels you’re exposed to. Alan suggests steeping the tea using stainless steel tools or any other type of non-plastic strainer. You could also choose brands that offer biodegradable or plastic-free tea bags made from natural fibers like paper or cotton, per Detwiler.
But tea drinkers shouldn't panic over the findings. "This was interesting and the findings do show uptake by cells," Alan says. "However, the cells they used were cancer cells—it is very hard to grow non-cancer cells in the lab—so it’s hard to say how translatable this will be to 'normal' cells."
You Might Also Like
