Scientists urgently warn against drinking tea – as they find a single tea bag can release billions of dangerous microplastics into your body

By William On Dec 27, 2024

For millions of Brits, the day doesn’t really start until you’ve had your first cup of tea.

But a new study might make you think twice before reaching for the kettle.

Scientists from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have warned that one tea bag can release billions of dangerous microplastics into your body.

During their experiments, the team discovered that most of these microplastics are absorbed by the mucus-producing intestinal cells.

However, they discovered that some can even enter the cell nucleus – the part of the cell that houses genetic material.

Worryingly, the long-term effects of these microplastics on human health remain unclear.

“The potential health impacts of micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) on the environment are of increasing concern,” the researchers said.

‘In addition to environmental exposure, other sources such as food packaging, including spice and tea bags, can also be significant.’

Scientists from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have warned that a single tea bag could release billions of dangerous microplastics into your body

Previous research has shown that food packaging is an important source of microplastics.

However, until now, little research has been done into the amount of these plastics that we ingest through tea bags.

In their new study, published in Chemospherethe team examined the microplastics released from three popular types of tea bags, which can be easily purchased online or in local supermarkets.

The first type was a nylon tea bag, which the researchers ordered from Amazon.

A polypropylene tea bag was then ordered from AliExpress.

Finally, a third type was purchased in a supermarket, but with an unknown filter polymer.

For each type of tea bag, the researchers placed 300 tea bags in a 1-liter beaker containing 600 ml of water at 95°C.

The team found that all three types released huge amounts of nanoparticles into the water.

In their new research, the team examined the microplastics released from three popular types of tea bags, which can be easily purchased online or in local supermarkets.

The polypropylene tea bags were the worst offenders, releasing approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, with an average size of 136.7 nanometers.

Meanwhile, the nylon tea bags released 8.18 million particles per milliliter, with an average size of 13.8.4 nanometers.

The researchers then stained the microplastics before exposing them to different types of human intestinal cells.

They found that the mucus-producing intestinal cells had the highest absorption of plastics, with some particles even able to enter the cell nucleus.

People can be exposed to plastic particles through the consumption of food products, drinking water and through the air.

However, the levels of human exposure, the concentrations of chronic toxic effects and the underlying mechanisms by which microplastics cause effects are still not well enough understood to allow a full assessment of the risks to humans.

Researchers are increasingly concerned about the ability of such particles to be internalized into cells and cause changes in cellular function, especially when interacting with organs in children, and cause permanent changes in adult life.

There is growing evidence that plastics may play a key role in the development of early-stage cancer, where healthy cells become cancerous.

Earlier this year, a study showed that cancer cells in the intestines spread more quickly after contact with microplastics.

Maria Westerbos, co-founder of the Plastic Health Council, said: ‘Time and time again, scientists have blown the lid on the dangerous effects of plastic on human health. There can be no further doubt.

‘The international community is just months away from final negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty, and yet policymakers are giving in to the petrochemical giants.

“The international community cannot waste any more time, it must finally listen to the science once and for all.”

Based on the findings, the researchers call for urgent research into the impact of microplastics on the human body.

“Our findings add to a growing body of evidence on the pervasive nature of plastic pollution and its potential implications for human health,” she added.

‘As the use of plastics in food packaging continues to rise, scientific research and policymaking must address the challenges of MNPL contamination to ensure food safety and consumer welfare.’

WHAT CAN MICROPLASTICS DO TO THE HUMAN BODY WHEN THEY ENTER OUR FOOD SUPPLY?

According to one article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, our understanding of the potential human health impacts of microplastic exposure represents “major knowledge gaps.”

People can be exposed to plastic particles through the consumption of seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and through the air.

According to Rachel Adamsa senior lecturer in biomedical sciences at Cardiff Metropolitan University, ingesting microplastics can cause a number of potentially harmful effects, including:

Inflammation: When inflammation occurs, the body’s white blood cells and the substances they produce protect us from infection. This normally protective immune system can cause damage to tissues.
An immune response to anything recognized as ‘foreign’: such immune responses can cause damage to the body.
Becoming carriers of other toxins that enter the body: microplastics generally repel water and bind to toxins that do not dissolve, so microplastics can bind to compounds containing toxic metals such as mercury, and organic pollutants such as some pesticides and chemicals that dioxins are called. known to cause cancer, as well as reproductive and developmental problems. When these microplastics enter the body, toxins can accumulate in fatty tissue.