Tea bags have become an integral part of many people’s daily lives due to their convenience and practicality. However, scientists have warned that certain tea bags may pose a risk to human health due to the release of micro- and nanoplastic particles. Recent research from the University of Barcelona has shown that tea bags made of polypropylene, nylon-6 or cellulose can release between 8 million and 1.2 billion plastic particles per milliliter when soaked in hot water.
It was announced by the publication “”.
Plastic particles entering the human body are of great concern to experts. It turned out that these particles can reach the intestinal cells, where they affect the production of mucus, and even more surprising is the fact that they even enter the nucleus of the cell, the storehouse of genetic material.
Scientific research highlights the urgent need to assess the long-term consequences of exposure to microplastics on human health. Experts say standardized testing methods are needed to accurately measure the level of contamination of plastic materials that come into contact with food.
With the increasing consumption of convenience foods and beverages, it is necessary to ensure adequate legal measures to help reduce the amount of microplastics in everyday products and protect public health.
What does this mean for us tea lovers? Should we rethink how we prepare our favorite drink? This problem is increasingly attracting the attention of both scientists and consumers, highlighting the need for more sustainable and safer solutions.
Tea bags appeared in the 20th century. in the beginning and, as is often the case, were originally designed for purposes quite different from those for which they are now used. Tea bags are thought to have been “discovered” by accident when, in 1908, New York tea merchant Thomas Sullivan began sending samples to his customers in small silk bags, hoping that the tea would be taken out and poured into a teapot. However, the customers did not understand his intentions and brewed tea along with these silk bags.
Noticing that making tea in this way saved people time and reduced effort, Sullivan quickly popularized the method. Later, through experimentation, silk was replaced by cheaper and more practical materials, and tea bags became an incredibly popular choice around the world.
