Billions of microplastics were found in one tea bag: scientists warned people about the danger

Scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain) have conducted a new study showing that tea bags can be harmful to health. According to scientists, one such bag can release billions of hazardous microplastics into the body.

During their experiments, the team found that most of these microplastics are absorbed by intestinal cells that produce mucus. But some of them can penetrate into the cell nucleus, the part that contains genetic material, MailOnline writes. But the long-term impact of this microplastic on human health remains unclear.

"The potential health effects of environmental micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) are a growing concern. In addition to environmental exposure, other sources, such as food packaging, including herbal/tea bags, may also be significant," the researchers comment on the study.

Previous studies have shown that food packaging is a major source of microplastics. However, there has been little research on the amount of plastic we consume from tea bags.

The team investigated the microplastics released from three popular types of tea bags that can be easily purchased at any supermarket: nylon, polypropylene, and with an unknown polymer filter.

For each type of tea bag, the researchers transferred 300 of them into a 1 liter beaker containing 600 ml of water at 95°C. The team found that all three types released a huge amount of nanoscale particles into the water.

Polypropylene tea bags were the worst, releasing approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter with an average size of 136.7 nanometers. Nylon tea bags released 8.18 million particles per milliliter with an average size of 13.8.4 nanometers.

The researchers then colored the microplastic before exposing it to different types of human intestinal cells. In this way, the scientists found that intestinal cells that produce mucus absorb plastic the most, and some particles can even penetrate the cell nucleus.

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

However, the level of human exposure, the concentrations of chronic toxic effects, and the underlying mechanisms by which microplastics cause exposure are not yet sufficiently understood to make a full assessment of the risks to humans.

Scientists point out that they are most concerned about the ability of such particles to penetrate cells, causing changes in cellular functions, especially when interacting with organs in children.

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

"As the use of plastic in food packaging continues to grow, research and policy development must address the challenges posed by MNPL contamination to ensure food safety and consumer welfare," the researchers said.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!