Microplastics and Nanoplastics have become an increasingly popular health topic. Various health professionals are worried that these small plastic particles could have detrimental effects on human health. Their concerns may be justified considering how frequently these plastics are found in everyday items that we consume. Microplastics can be found in some foods and in tap water, and if you thought that you can avoid them by switching to bottled water, well unfortunately microplastics have also been found in bottled water.
Many of us may have already been aware of the fact that we regularly consume microplastics via food and water; however, an even bigger surprise for many may be that their favorite cup of tea may have also been invaded by these pesky plastic particles. Much to our surprise a recent study conducted by researchers at McGill University found that substantial amounts of Micro and Nano plastics are released from the tea packaging(teabag) during a typical steeping process. Researchers found as much as 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics in a single cup of tea brewed using a plastic teabag. Two of the most popular materials used to fabricate plastic teabags include nylon and polyethylene terephthalate(PET). Several tea brands are switching to plastic packaging including various premium brands. Tea brands are likely looking to give their packaging a more premium or sophisticated appeal and this is likely what is causing the change from paper to plastic. Additionally, using plastic apparently helps the bag keep its shape during the brewing process which helps in obtaining a better brew. Nevertheless, making the switch to plastic may not have been the best idea as researchers at McGill note that the amounts of plastic released by plastic teabags are substantially higher in magnitude compared to plastic amounts previously reported in other foods. According to their assessment, exposure to only the particles released from the teabags could cause dose-dependent behavioral and developmental effects. Nonetheless, the researchers in charge of this experiment as well as others from other institutions are not entirely sure of the health effects of microplastics and they call for more investigation on the subject.
Read more about this interesting experiment on the American Chemical Society website.
Many of us may have already been aware of the fact that we regularly consume microplastics via food and water; however, an even bigger surprise for many may be that their favorite cup of tea may have also been invaded by these pesky plastic particles. Much to our surprise a recent study conducted by researchers at McGill University found that substantial amounts of Micro and Nano plastics are released from the tea packaging(teabag) during a typical steeping process. Researchers found as much as 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics in a single cup of tea brewed using a plastic teabag. Two of the most popular materials used to fabricate plastic teabags include nylon and polyethylene terephthalate(PET). Several tea brands are switching to plastic packaging including various premium brands. Tea brands are likely looking to give their packaging a more premium or sophisticated appeal and this is likely what is causing the change from paper to plastic. Additionally, using plastic apparently helps the bag keep its shape during the brewing process which helps in obtaining a better brew. Nevertheless, making the switch to plastic may not have been the best idea as researchers at McGill note that the amounts of plastic released by plastic teabags are substantially higher in magnitude compared to plastic amounts previously reported in other foods. According to their assessment, exposure to only the particles released from the teabags could cause dose-dependent behavioral and developmental effects. Nonetheless, the researchers in charge of this experiment as well as others from other institutions are not entirely sure of the health effects of microplastics and they call for more investigation on the subject.
Read more about this interesting experiment on the American Chemical Society website.