Love tea? Your daily brew could be serving up billions of micro- and nanoplastics
Researchers found that tea bags release large amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics when soaked in boiling water. In some cases, a single tea bag has released more than a billion particles, while another study reported more than 14 billion particles from a plastic-based bag.
Most tea bags, although they appear to be paper-based, contain plastic polymers used for sealing. Some are made from plastic mesh or a mixture of plant-based and synthetic fibers. Even bags labeled as biodegradable or compostable may still contain plastic components.
Microplastics can also enter tea through packaging materials such as plastic bottles, cups and lids, as well as water and tea leaves contaminated during production.
Experts say the amount of plastic particles detected varies between studies due to differences in testing methods and materials used. However, tea bags remain one of the biggest contributors when exposed to hot water.
researchers They also raised concerns about possible health and environmental impacts, noting that tea may contain higher concentrations of these particles than many other foods and beverages. Microplastics have previously been detected in many everyday products, including bottled water, milk, beer, salt, spices, eggs and shellfish.
Tea is the second most consumed beverage worldwide after water, with production expected to increase from 6.3 million tonnes in 2020 to 7.4 million tonnes by 2025.
