A new study has raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with drinking tea brewed using plastic-containing tea bags, Newsweek reports.
Researchers have found that such tea bags can release billions of nano- and microplastic particles into hot water, raising questions about their long-term impact on human health.
Tea bags made from materials such as polypropylene, nylon-6, and cellulose release significant amounts of plastic particles when steeped in hot water. The study, conducted by microbiologists at the Independent University of Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UAB), revealed staggering findings:
- Polypropylene tea bags released approximately 1.2 billion plastic particles per milliliter of tea.
- Cellulose tea bags released 135 million particles per milliliter.
- Nylon-6 tea bags released 8.18 million particles per milliliter.
These particles include microplastics, which measure between 1 and 1,000 micrometers, and even smaller nanoplastics, ranging from 1 to 1,000 nanometers.
The study tracked the interaction of these plastic particles with human intestinal cells, revealing concerning results:
- Digestive mucus cells absorbed substantial amounts of plastic within 24 hours.
- Some particles penetrated the nuclei of cells, where genetic material is stored.
- Plastics entering cells disrupted mitochondria—known as the “energy factories” of cells—and interfered with DNA, increasing the risk of carcinogenesis (cancer development).
Microplastics also release chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with hormones and potentially increase the risk of hormone-related cancers.
Plastic contamination in food and beverages is a growing concern. According to Alba García-Rodríguez, a co-author of the study, tea bags are just one example of how microplastics infiltrate everyday life.
“We are exposed everywhere to micro-nano plastics,” said García-Rodríguez.
The research underscores the urgent need for stricter regulatory measures to reduce plastic contamination in food-contact materials. While eliminating microplastic exposure entirely may be unrealistic, studies like this highlight the importance of minimizing risk wherever possible.
