Tea Bags Leak Billions of Microplastics into Your Cup

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New UAB study found single polypropylene tea bag releases 1.2 billion micro and nano plastic particles per milliliter during brewing.

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Microscopic plastic particles averaging 136.7 nanometers were absorbed by intestinal mucus-producing cells.

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Polypropylene bags emit highest particle count, followed by cellulose at 135 million and nylon-6 at 8.18 million particles per milliliter.

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Plastic particles enter cell nuclei within 24 hours, raising concerns about genotoxicity and carcinogenicity risks.

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Smaller particle size correlates with higher cellular absorption rates, warns researcher Ricardo Marcos Dauder.

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Microplastics contamination extends beyond tea bags, affecting rivers, lakes, human tissue, and bottled water.

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Researchers call for standardized testing methods to assess plastic contamination from food packaging materials.

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Scientists advocate switching to loose-leaf tea, paper bags, or plastic-free alternatives to reduce exposure.

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Research supported by Helmholtz Centre under PlasticHeal framework explores plastic particle exposure through food packaging.

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