Sipping a cup of tea to unwind? Great choice. But beware: if you’re using plastic tea bags, you might also be consuming billions of microplastics unknowingly, which poses significant health risks. Here’s what you need to know.
Tea is commonly seen as a healthy, comforting, and even medicinal beverage. Whether you prefer green, black, white, or herbal varieties, there is something for everyone. However, a common practice may actually be detrimental to your health: invisible pollution present in industrial tea bags, namely microplastics.
Microplastics: A Closer Look at Tea Bags
What Are Microplastics in Tea Bags?
Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments, smaller than 5 mm, that come from the breakdown of plastic materials. They are everywhere: in water, air, soil, and now even in our food.
The concern with tea bags mainly involves those made from plastic materials like nylon or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). When such bags are steeped in hot water, often boiling, the plastic breaks down, releasing microscopic particles that are invisible to the naked eye.
A Canadian study from McGill University, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology in 2019, found that a single plastic tea bag can release up to 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics… into just one cup! This quantity is staggering and far exceeds what is typically found in other foods or tap water.
What Happens After We Drink These Particles?
The real concern is that our bodies do not just filter out these microplastics. Recent research, particularly from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, indicates that such particles can be absorbed by our intestinal cells and then enter the bloodstream. The implications of this are largely unknown.
It is now known that microplastics have been found in the blood, lungs, placenta, and even the brain. The long-term effects of these particles on human health are still poorly understood. However, scientists agree that ongoing exposure could promote inflammation, disrupt the immune system, and may contribute to the development of chronic diseases.
Environmental Impact: A Vicious Cycle
In addition to the health risks, plastic tea bags pose a significant environmental problem. Once discarded, they do not decompose completely. Instead, they continue to break down, contaminating wastewater, soil, and oceans.
This pollution eventually makes its way into the food chain: fish, shellfish, and other seafood ingest these particles, which we then consume ourselves. It’s a harmful cycle in which we are both contributors and victims.
How to Protect Yourself from Microplastics
Fortunately, there are simple alternatives to enjoy tea without ingesting plastic.
- Opt for loose leaf tea: Often of better quality, it avoids the pitfalls of industrial bags.
- Use a stainless steel tea infuser: Reusable, easy to clean, and safe.
- If you prefer tea bags: Choose those made from paper without glue or staples, and look for “plastic-free” labeling on the packaging.
- Avoid shiny pyramid tea bags: They tend to contain the most plastic.
Drinking tea itself is not harmful; in fact, it can be quite beneficial. However, certain vessels, especially plastic tea bags, can turn a healthy habit into a daily source of microplastic exposure. In the face of such insidious pollution, awareness and informed choices are our best defenses.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
A study by Inserm has shown that microplastics can disrupt the intestinal barrier and promote chronic inflammation, a risk factor for many diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular conditions.
