this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2025
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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] 17 points 4 months ago (15 children)

Has anyone checked how much particles I produce when I wash my fleece jacket.

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[–] [email protected] -3 points 4 months ago (4 children)

One thing to note with all these articles; so far, there are no major comprehensive studies that definitively show microplastics are a danger to the body, or show what levels are considered acceptable or not.

Considering the entire world population hasn't just collectively died in the last 50 years, I'm leaning towards the effects of microplastics being negligible, or at least a hell of a lot less dangerous than other established risks like processed meat or direct sunlight.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

We tried that approach with leaded gasoline and paint, asbestos building materials, cigarettes, and a variety of other things over the past several generations. They didn't kill the entire world population, but things didn't turn out so well for the people who waited for definitive studies. Good luck with your gamble.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months 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.

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[–] [email protected] 74 points 4 months ago (3 children)

This warning only applies to the pyramid tea bags and not the paper sachet.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 4 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (6 children)

It did list cellulose bags as one source, however I don't quite understand how. Additive to strengthen the material?

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 months ago (3 children)

OMG. That's a good way to start the new year. Now my daily tea is going to be filled with guilt and worry.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

You can switch to loose leaf. I thought loose leaf sucked because the tea bits always got in it. Then I found a metal filter that has like, 180nm holes in it. Extremely fine mesh.

I use it more than paper tea bags now!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Get a tea infuser. Loose tea tends to be 100x better quality anyway.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Just buy paper tea bags or loose leaf tea. The article is talking about those stupid nylon “pyramid” tea bags.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

This is why I simply tear open the tea bags and dump them into a fine mesh stainless steel basket and set it in the cup.

I have yet to find loose leaf tea tasty enough to repeat buy but I do have 3-4 flavors of bagged tea I always keep stocked.

The biggest downside to doing my favorite bagged teas this way is it’s a pain to clean out the metal basket when I just want another cup the next day, but to me the trade off on sidestepping the microplastic issue is worthwhile

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

No it's not, because I use a stainless steel capsule and loose leaf tea, which is superior in every way (even if microplastics weren't an issue).

If you don't make your tea like this, do yourself a favor and upgrade to some quality loose leaf!

Edit: lol, I love that this is getting downvotes. Are there disposable teabag enthusiasts out there?

[–] [email protected] 33 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Your tea bag...

No, it's not, because I use something other than tea bags.

That's you. That's what you wrote.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I wish stainless steel infusers weren't dogshit for rooibos :(

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Looks like the risk comes from boiling tea bags made of these materials. Cold steep chads keep winning

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

You're a monster. I just wanted you to know that.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago

So... Psychopaths?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (4 children)

These "materials" included cellulose, which is just plant fiber.

Are we really going to start calling plant fibers "bioplastics" now in an effort to scare people?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

Polymerized cellulose is by definition a biobased polymer, this isn't anything new. The study doesn't make any claims that polymerized cellulose is harmful. Calling them "plant fibers" is incorrect as they aren't derived directly from a plant, like say, cotton. These are manufactured using cellulose.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Stand down brother, you're up against a cold steep chad

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

Cold steeping tea is exactly why we can't have nice things.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

My arms just grew cold steep bumps!

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