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The release of polylactic acid nanoplastics (PLA-NPLs) from commercial teabags. Obtention, characterization, and hazard effects of true-to-life PLA-NPLs
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Scientists found that commercial teabags release about one million nanoplastic particles made of polylactic acid (PLA) into each cup of tea during normal brewing. When tested on lab-grown intestinal cells, these nanoplastics were taken up at high rates and caused changes in the structure and function of the gut barrier. This suggests that even "biodegradable" plastics in food packaging may expose people to significant amounts of nanoplastics.
This study investigates MNPLs release from commercially available teabags and their effects on both undifferentiated monocultures of Caco-2 and HT29 and in the in vitro model of the intestinal Caco-2/HT29 barrier. Teabags were subjected to mechanical and thermodynamic forces simulating the preparation of a cup of tea. The obtained dispersions were characterized using TEM, SEM, DLS, LDV, NTA, and FTIR. Results confirmed that particles were in the nano-range, constituted by polylactic acid (PLA-NPLs), and about one million of PLA-NPLs per teabag were quantified. PLA-NPLs internalization, cytotoxicity, intracellular reactive oxygen species induction, as well as structural and functional changes in the barrier were assessed. Results show that PLA-NPLs present high uptake rates, especially in mucus-secretor cells, and bio-persisted in the tissue after 72 h of exposure. Although no significant cytotoxicity was observed after the exposure to 100 µg/mL PLA-NPLs during 48 h, a slight barrier disruption could be detected at short-time periods. The present work reveals new insights into the safety of polymer-based teabags, the behavior of true-to-life MNPLs in the human body, as well as new questions on how repeated and prolonged exposures could affect the structure and function of the human intestinal epithelium.
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This review looks at how microplastics and nanoplastics end up in tea, with plastic teabags being the biggest culprit, releasing over a billion tiny particles per bag when steeped in hot water. Even biodegradable and composite tea bags release significant amounts of plastic particles, raising health concerns given that tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world.
Tea bags as hidden source of micro- and nanoplastics: a systematic review for food safety.
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Researchers systematically reviewed 19 studies on microplastic and nanoplastic release from tea bags during brewing, finding that plastic-containing bags—particularly polypropylene and nylon—release billions of particles per bag at typical brewing temperatures, with release rates shaped by material type, water temperature, brew time, and agitation, though standardized detection methods remain lacking.
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