For millions of Britons, the day doesn’t really start until you’ve had your first cup of tea.
But a new study might make you think twice before reaching for the kettle.
Scientists from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have warned that a single tea bag can release billions of dangerous microplastics into your body.
During their experiments, the team found that most of these microplastics are taken up by the mucus-producing intestinal cells.
However, they found that some can even enter the cell nucleus – the part of the cell that houses genetic material.
Worryingly, the long-term effects of these microplastics on human health remain unclear.
‘The potential health implications of environmental micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) are increasingly concerning,’ the researchers said.
‘Beyond environmental exposure, other sources such as food packaging, including herbal/teabags, may also be significant.’
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Scientists from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have warned that a single tea bag can release billions of dangerous microplastics into your body
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Previous studies have shown that food packaging is a major source of microplastics.
Will YOU quit drinking tea from tea bags?
However, until now, there has been little research into the number of these plastics that we ingest from tea bags.
In their new study, published in Chemosphere, the team investigated the microplastics released from three popular teabag types, which can easily be purchased online or in local supermarkets.
The first type was a nylon teabag, which the researchers ordered from Amazon.
Next, a polypropylene teabag was ordered from AliExpress.
Finally, a third type was bought in a supermarket, but with an unknown filter polymer.
For each teabag type, the researchers transferred 300 teabags into a 1-litre beaker containing 600ml of water at 95°C.
The team found that, across all three types, huge amounts of nano-sized particles were released into the water.
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In their new study, the team investigated the microplastics released from three popular teabag types, which can easily be purchased online or in local supermarkets
The polypropylene teabags were the worst offenders, releasing approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, with an average size of 136.7 nanometres.
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Meanwhile, the nylon teabags released 8.18 million particles per milliliter, with an average size of 13.8.4 nanometres.
Next, the researchers stained the microplastics before exposing them to different types of human intestinal cells.
They found that the mucus-producing intestinal cells had the highest uptake of plastics – with some particles even able to enter the cell nucleus.
Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumption of food products, drinking water and via the air.
However, the level of human exposure, chronic toxic effect concentrations and underlying mechanisms by which microplastics elicit effects are still not well understood enough in order to make a full assessment of the risks to humans.
Researchers are increasingly concerned about the capacity of such particles to be internalised within cells causing alterations in cellular function, particularly when interacting with organs in children and causing definitive alterations in adult life.
There is a growing body of evidence that plastics could play a key role in early-onset cancer genesis, where healthy cells turn cancerous.
Earlier this year, a study found cancer cells in the gut spread at an accelerated rate after contact with microplastics.
Experts have also raised the alarm about a potential between microplastics and reproductive health.
Scientists warned in June that they found tiny plastic particles in men’s sperm.
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Tiny bits of microplastic, seen here as the black dots, were found in the semen samples of all 36 participants in a Chinese trial
This plastic was specifically that used in pipes in plumbing with tests revealing the plastic exposed sperm was less mobile, and therefore worse at fertilising eggs.
The Chinese team suggested this may link microplastics to an observed global decrease in fertility rates.
Maria Westerbos, co-founder, Plastic Health Council, said: ‘Time and time again scientists are peeling back the cover on plastics’ dangerous effects on human health. There can be no further doubt.
‘The international community is only months away from the final Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, and yet policymakers are giving into the petrochemical giants.
‘The international community cannot waste any more time, they must finally listen to science, once and for all.’
Based on the findings, the researchers are calling for urgent research into the impacts of microplastics on the human body.
‘Our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence on the pervasive nature of plastic pollution and its potential implications for human health,’ they added.
‘As the usage of plastics in food packaging continues to rise, scientific research and policymaking must address the challenges posed by MNPL contamination to ensure food safety and consumer well-being.’
WHAT CAN MICROPLASTICS DO TO THE HUMAN BODY IF THEY END UP IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY?
According to an article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, our understanding of the potential human health effects from exposure to microplastics ‘constitutes major knowledge gaps.’
Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumption of seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and via the air.
However, the level of human exposure, chronic toxic effect concentrations and underlying mechanisms by which microplastics elicit effects are still not well understood enough in order to make a full assessment of the risks to humans.
According to Rachel Adams, a senior lecturer in Biomedical Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University, ingesting microplastics could cause a number of potentially harmful effects, such as:
Inflammation: when inflammation occurs, the body’s white blood cells and the substances they produce protect us from infection. This normally protective immune system can cause damage to tissues.
An immune response to anything recognised as ‘foreign’ to the body: immune responses such as these can cause damage to the body.
Becoming carriers for other toxins that enter the body: microplastics generally repel water and will bind to toxins that don’t dissolve, so microplastics can bind to compounds containing toxic metals such as mercury, and organic pollutants such as some pesticides and chemicals called dioxins, which are known to causes cancer, as well as reproductive and developmental problems. If these microplastics enter the body, toxins can accumulate in fatty tissues.
