Your Teabag Can Release Billions Of Harmful Microplastics Into Your Body, New Study Finds

The new study has found that individual teabags can release billions of micro- and nano plastic particles in every millimetre of water they are dunked into.

The research team is calling for more to be done to standardise the use of plastics in food packaging.

Source : Canva (modified)

Let us face it. We know plastics have made our lives easier due to its virtues of versatility, durability, cost-effectiveness, lightweight nature, hygiene, and safety, among others. The packet of biscuits, the loaf of bread, your medicines, household grocery items, your electronic goods, and baby food, all come wrapped in plastic as the material has simply revolutionised the food packaging sector by extending the shelf life of fresh food, enabling essential health applications, and contributing to lighter and safer shipping.

But look beyond these advantages, and do a reality check on how the widespread use of plastic has not only given rise to environmental degradation and pollution, but also multiplied the health risks associated with certain plastic additives and their degradation into micro- (5 mm - 1 μm) and nanoplastics (<1 μm) (MNPLs).

The MNPLs are getting into human tissue, marine life, ocean floors, ancient rock, and even bottled water. A latest collaborative study by researchers from Spain, Egypt, and Germany has shocked the world with results that show how many of these tiny fragments can lurk inside a single teabag.

This new study led by researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in Spain, published in Chemosphere found that individual teabags can release billions of micro- and nano plastic (MNPL) particles in every millimetre of water they are dunked into.

Those figures might seem surprisingly high, but they are in line with previous research looking at the combination of plastics and high heat, such as food containers put in the microwave. It's a sobering reminder of the prevalence of MNPLs, reports Science Alert.

Three Teabag Types, And Three Different Results

The study included and analysed three different tea bag types. "We have managed to innovatively characterise these pollutants with a set of cutting-edge techniques, which is a very important tool to advance research on their possible impacts on human health," says microbiologist Alba García-Rodríguez, from UAB.

Using laser techniques to measure the speed and scattering of light gave a highly accurate picture of the chemical and physical properties of particles released from the teabags sourced from outlets that the general public buys for home and commercial use.

Varying results from 3 types of teabags:

1. Polypropylene teabags released about 1.2 billion particles per millilitre, averaging 136.7 nanometres in size.
2. Cellulose teabags released on average 135 million particles per millilitre, around 244 nanometres in size. 
3. Nylon-6 teabags typically released 8.18 million particles per millilitre, averaging 138.4 nanometres in size.

How Do MNPL Particles Interact With Human Intestinal Cells?

Scientists found that the absorption levels in mucous-producing cells were enough for the plastics to reach the cell nucleus.

Mucous-producing cells, primarily goblet cells and specialised glands, are found in various parts of the body where mucous serves to protect and lubricate surfaces by trapping pathogens, preventing tissue dehydration, and providing a physical barrier in these areas. Mucous producing cells are present in:

• Respiratory Tract
• Nasal cavity, Trachea and Bronchi
• Digestive Tract
• Urogenital Tract
• Eye
• Inner ear, and 
• Even on skin areas like the lips.

The finding that the absorption levels in mucous-producing cells were enough for the plastics to reach the cell nucleus is a useful discovery in terms of assessing the impacts on health of the plastics now floating through our bodies.

Potential Impacts Of MNPL Absorption In Blood Stream

Oxidative Stress: Leads to cellular damage.

Toxic Chemical Release: Plastics often carry additives like phthalates or bisphenols, which can leach out and disrupt endocrine function.

Microbiome Disruption: Interference with the balance of gut microbes.

Potential Carcinogenic Effects: Long-term exposure might contribute to cancer risk, though more research is needed.

"The polymer composition of MNPLs significantly influences their biological interactions, leading to varied targeting and effects on organs, tissues, and cells," the recently published paper notes. "These differences can result in specific accumulation patterns, toxicity profiles, immune responses, and long-term health effects such as genotoxicity and carcinogenicity."

How This Research Will Help People

The research team is calling for more to be done to standardise the use of plastics in food packaging in order to safeguard public health. Human health and evolution can be at risk as microplastics and nano plastics could likely interfere with normal cell operations and make infections more likely. Previous research studies have found that microplastics in the gut were associated with conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

"As the usage of plastics in food packaging continues to rise, scientific research and policymaking must address the challenges posed by MNPL contamination to ensure food safety and consumer well-being," write the researchers.

Awareness of the health hazards of the indiscriminate use of plastics and presence of MNPLs in daily events is necessary. It encourages people to incorporate ways to reduce micro plastic pollution, including bans on single-use plastics and research into biodegradable alternatives. Personal measures, such as minimising plastic use, shunning the practices that may allow MNPLs to creep in, and opting for filtered water, among other steps may help reduce exposure.

The writer is a senior independent journalist.