Scientists from the Mutagenesis Group of the UAB Department of Genetics and Microbiology in Spain have discovered some commercial tea bags release nano and micro plastics
Researchers have warned tea bags can release millions of nanoplastics which are spread throughout the human body.
More than 100 million cuppas are brewed every day by Brits, with the number reaching into the billions every year. Now a team of scientists in Spain have discovered polymer-based commercial tea bags release millions of nanoplastics and microplastics when infused.
The tiny particles can be absorbed by our intestines and then spread throughout our bodies in the bloodstream. The study, by the Mutagenesis Group of the UAB Department of Genetics and Microbiology, reveals the team is unsure on the long term effects on people’s bodies.
UAB researcher Alba Garcia said: “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.
“It is critical to develop standardised test methods to assess MNPLs contamination released from plastic food contact materials and to formulate regulatory policies to effectively mitigate and minimise this contamination. As the use of plastic in food packaging continues to increase, it is vital to address MNPLs contamination to ensure food safety and protect public health.”
The tea bags used for the research were made from the polymers nylon-6, polypropylene and cellulose. The study showed when brewing tea polypropylene releases approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, with an average size of 136.7 nanometres.
The study reads: “The UAB researchers observed when these tea bags are used to prepare an infusion, huge amounts of nano-sized particles and nanofilamentous structures are released, which is an important source of exposure to MNPLs. To characterise the different types of particles present in the infusion, a set of advanced analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were used. Interactions with human cells observed for the first time
“The particles were stained and exposed for the first time to different types of human intestinal cells to assess their interaction and possible cellular internalisation. The biological interaction experiments showed that mucus-producing intestinal cells had the highest uptake of micro and nanoplastics, with the particles even entering the cell nucleus that houses the genetic material.
“The result suggests a key role for intestinal mucus in the uptake of these pollutant particles and underscores the need for further research into the effects chronic exposure can have on human health.”
