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Microplastic Contamination of Bottled Iced Tea
Summary
This study detected microplastic contamination in bottled iced tea products, reflecting the broader infiltration of microplastics into packaged food and beverages. The findings contribute to growing evidence that commercially sold drinks are a route of human microplastic ingestion.
Due to the increase in plastic production and use around the world in recent years, the amount of microplastics accumulating in the environment has also increased. This dangerous pollutant has penetrated 129 not only into all ecosystems, but even into food and water. This study focused on the presence and prevalence of microplastics in seven iced tea brands. Using FT-IR spectroscopy and microscopic examination, microplastic particles were detected in all iced tea samples studied. It was found that not only water, but also the production process itself and auxiliary raw materials can be sources of microplastic pollution. The chemical components of these microplastic polymers were polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene and polyamide, and fibers were the predominant particle form. Preliminary data from the study on microplastic contamination in soft drinks may be useful for further assessing the health risks of microplastics.