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Brewing plastics: OCT reveals microplastic release from nylon tea bags in simulated brewed tea infusions

Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 2026 Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Pramoda Maheshi Jayasekara, Pramoda Maheshi Jayasekara, Pramoda Maheshi Jayasekara, Pramoda Maheshi Jayasekara, Meththika Vithanage, Meththika Vithanage, Praveen Abhishek, Manura Weerasinghe, Praveen Abhishek, Praveen Abhishek, Praveen Abhishek, Manura Weerasinghe, Praveen Abhishek, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Praveen Abhishek, Praveen Abhishek, Praveen Abhishek, Meththika Vithanage, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Bimsara Sandaruwan Kahandawala, Bimsara Sandaruwan Kahandawala, Nipun Shantha Kahatapitiya, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Nisala Damith, Nisala Damith, Manura Weerasinghe, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Manura Weerasinghe, Manura Weerasinghe, Manura Weerasinghe, Bimsara Sandaruwan Kahandawala, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Bimsara Sandaruwan Kahandawala, Meththika Vithanage, Nipun Shantha Kahatapitiya, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Bhagya Nathali Silva, Bhagya Nathali Silva, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Murad Khan, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Shiromi Karunaratne, Ruchire Eranga Wijesinghe, Ruchire Eranga Wijesinghe, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Udaya Wijenayake, Udaya Wijenayake, Meththika Vithanage, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Meththika Vithanage, Meththika Vithanage

Summary

Researchers used optical coherence tomography to detect and quantify microplastics released from nylon tea bags under various brewing conditions. They found that steeping in hot water for five minutes released between 16,000 and 24,000 microplastic particles, with both large and small size fractions present. The study introduces a rapid, non-destructive detection method and highlights nylon tea bags as a significant source of microplastic exposure during everyday beverage preparation.

Polymers

nylon

Models

Human

The release of microplastics (MPs) from nylon tea bags poses a critical concern for human exposure; however, their detection and quantification remain challenging especially in beverage matrices, and hence, this study pioneers the use of high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) integrated with an image processing algorithm to rapidly detect and quantify the size and count of the MPs directly in the water extractions simulating tea brewing. The water extractions prepared by simulating tea brewing conditions, hot (100 °C, 1-5 min), cold (2 °C, 1 h), and ambient (30 °C, 1 h), were observed employing OCT imaging and validated through Nile Red (NR) staining and digital microscopy. The nylon tea bags steeped in hot water for 5 minutes released 16 000 to 24 000 LMPs (>30 µm) and SMPs (12-30 µm) per millilitre. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs indicates a higher exposure for children (ranging from 0.201 to 0.349 mm3 kg-1 day-1) compared to adults (0.046 to 0.080 mm3 kg-1 day-1). In contrast, cold brewing for 1 hour released fewer LMPs but an equal quantity of small MPs (SMPs) compared to hot brewing. This OCT-based approach offers a rapid, versatile platform for the detection and quantification of MPs from diverse packaging materials and provides a powerful tool for comprehensive risk assessment when combined with chemical and toxicological analyses.

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