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Study Finds Tea Bags Shedding Plastics That May Harm Human Cells
Recent research conducted by the UAB Department of Genetics and Microbiology has shed light on a previously overlooked source of micro and nanoplastic (MNPL) pollution: tea bags. The study’s findings raise critical questions about the health and environmental impacts of using certain tea bag materials.
Plastic Particles in Your Tea
The research reveals that tea bags made from materials such as nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose release harmful plastic particles into the water during steeping. This means that a seemingly innocuous cup of tea could contain billions of plastic particles. Among the materials studied, polypropylene tea bags were found to release up to 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, a staggering figure that underscores the potential scale of exposure.
Health Risks Associated with MNPL
One of the most concerning aspects of the study is the ability of these micro and nanoplastic particles to penetrate human intestinal cells. This raises significant health concerns, as prolonged exposure could lead to various health issues. While the long-term effects are still being studied, the findings highlight an urgent need to address this growing problem.
