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Your tea bag is likely releasing billions of microplastic particles, according to a new study (www.foodandwine.com)

submitted 11 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Summary

A new study from Spain’s Autonomous University of Barcelona reveals that tea bags made from nylon, polypropylene, and cellulose release billions of micro- and nanoplastic particles when steeped in boiling water.

These particles, which can enter human intestinal cells, may pose health risks, potentially affecting the digestive, respiratory, endocrine, and immune systems.

Researchers urge regulatory action to mitigate plastic contamination in food packaging.

Consumers are advised to use loose-leaf tea with stainless steel infusers or biodegradable tea bags to minimize exposure.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 hours ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microplastics_and_human_health

The potential health impacts of microplastics vary based on factors, such as their particle sizes, shape, exposure time, chemical composition (enriched with heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), etc.), surface properties, and associated contaminants.[76][77]

Experimental and observational studies in mammals have shown that microplastics and nanoplastics exposure have the following adverse effects:

On the cellular level

Inflammation[78][79]  
Oxidative stress[80][78][81][82][77]  
Genotoxicity[83][82]  
Cytotoxicity[81][77]

By systems

Cardiovascular[84][62]  
Respiratory[59]  
    Inflammation in the lungs from inhalation[75]  
Disruption of hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), including the Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular and Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis[85]  
Reproductive toxicity,[85] decreased reproductive health, decreased sperm quality[85]  
Developmental abnormalities[85]  
Immunotoxicity[85][86][81][79]  
Endocrine disruption[85][87]  
Neurotoxicity[85]  
Metabolic disturbances[78]  
    Disrupted gut-liver axis resulting in increased risk of insulin resistance[88]  
    disrupted hormone function, potentially contributing to weight gain.[89][90]

Epidemiological studies

Despite growing concern and evidence, most epidemiologic studies have focused on characterizing exposures. Epidemiological studies directly linking microplastics to adverse health effects in humans remain yet limited and research is ongoing to determine the full extent of potential harm caused by microplastics and their long-term impact on human health.[91][92]

There is plenty of reason to consider microplastics a major adverse health factor. The problem is that it is a relatively new field of research and making an epidemiological assessment is difficult as we are exposed to thousands of harmful substances, so knowing which effect comes from what is not a trivial thing to figure out.