Imagine being able to observe your cup of tea in very high resolution. Would you be ready to discover what is really hidden in the infusion you are about to sip? An innovative study led by a team of microbiologists from theAutonomous University of Barcelona may have done it for you, revealing a disturbing secret hidden in the common tea bags.
Using sophisticated laser techniques, researchers quantified the enormous number of micro and nano plastic particles released from each individual sachet during infusion. The results are alarming: billions of invisible fragments that silently mingle with our tea, raising questions about the potential effects of this contamination on our health.
Billions of particles in every milliliter
The study, published in the journal Chemosphere (I link it here), analyzed three different types of tea bags commonly available on the market. Those composed mainly of Polypropylene They released about 1,2 billion particles per milliliter, with an average size of 136,7 nanometers. The tea bags in cellulose have released on average 135 million particles per milliliter, about 244 nanometers in size. Finally, the tea bags in nylon-6 have typically released 8,18 million particles per milliliter, with an average of 138,4 nanometers.
“We have managed to innovatively characterize these pollutants with a set of cutting-edge techniques, which represent a very important tool for advancing research into their possible impacts on human health,” explains the microbiologist. Alba Garcia Rodriguez.
Chemosphere , 2024)
Tea Bags: Plastic Particles Reach the Nucleus of Cells
The researchers also tested how microplastic and nanoplastic particles interact with human intestinal cells, finding that in mucus-producing cells, the levels of absorption were sufficient to allow the plastics to even reach the cell nucleus. A useful finding for assessing the health impact of plastics which now “float” in our bodies.
As the study authors point out, “the polymer composition of microplastics and nanoplastics significantly influences their biological interactions, leading to different targets and effects on organs, tissues and cells.” These differences can “translate into specific accumulation patterns, toxicity profiles, immune responses and long-term health effects such as genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.”
It's time to rethink packaging standards
In light of this evidence, the research team calls for greater efforts to standardize the use of plastic in food packaging to protect public health. Although many questions remain about the impacts, growing evidence shows that the ever-increasing presence of tiny plastic particles could put ecosystems and our own health at risk.
Microplastics and nanoplastics are thought to interfere with normal cellular operations and increase the likelihood of infection. We have also seen associations between plastics in the gut and conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.
“As the use of plastics in food packaging continues to increase, scientific research and policy development must address the challenges posed by microplastic and nanoplastic contamination to ensure food safety and consumer well-being,” the researchers write.
Maybe it's time to look with new eyes even at a seemingly harmless gesture like making tea using conventional tea bags. Awareness and prevention could make a difference for our health and for the environment. Science continues to investigate, it's up to us consumers to make informed and responsible choices.
