Despite many people being aware of the omnipresence of microplastics and their potential harm to human health, a recent study has shed light on the severity of this pollution. It was revealed that simply steeping a tea bag can release billions of plastic microparticles into the human body, a staggering amount.
The Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain, in a press release on December 19, highlighted that food packaging is a major source of microplastic pollution, with inhalation and ingestion being the primary routes of human exposure.
A study from the university detailed how commercially manufactured tea bags made from polymers release plastic microparticles during steeping. This study marked the first time it was shown that these particles can be absorbed by human intestinal cells, reaching the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body.
During the study, researchers observed that a significant amount of nano-sized plastic microparticles are released when tea bags are steeped, serving as a crucial source of particle pollution exposure for individuals.
The tea bags used in the study were made of polymers like nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose. It was found that during steeping, polypropylene released approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter with an average size of 136.7 nanometers; cellulose released around 135 million particles per milliliter with an average size of 244 nanometers; and nylon-6 released approximately 8.18 million particles per milliliter with an average size of 138.4 nanometers.
To depict the characteristics of different particles, researchers employed advanced analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA).
Researcher Alba Garcia stated, “We used a set of cutting-edge techniques to characterize these pollutants, a very important and innovative tool that can explore the potential impacts of pollutants on human health.”
The researchers also tested how these particles interact with human intestinal cells. Results showed that in mucin-producing cells, the absorption levels were sufficient for plastics to reach the cell nucleus – a significant finding for assessing the impact of plastics on human health.
In the research report, the researchers wrote that the polymer composition of plastic microparticles significantly influences their biological interactions, leading to effects on different organs, tissues, and cells.
They noted that these differences could result in specific patterns of plastic microparticle accumulation, toxicity characteristics, immune responses, and long-term health effects like genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.
In conclusion, they stated, “With the increasing use of plastics in food packaging, scientific research and policy-making must address the challenges posed by plastic microparticle pollution to ensure food safety and consumer well-being.”