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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[–] andshit@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I think you might have skimmed over the methods, but think what the OP was trying to say is:

Concentration: 300 tea bags / 600mL = 1 teabag per 2mL (175 tea bags in one 350mL cup of tea, doesnt appear typical?)

Mixing: 750rpm × [1m/60s] = 12.5 rotations a sec (Awfully fast to be stirring tea, constantly)

Incubation time: Not specified. (They could have left boiling overnight?)

There seems to be many points about the methodology that raise eyebrows. Maybe it's ok if you want to use this method to purify particles for structural analysis or test toxicity on cells, but it doesn't seem fair to present this as "release of micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) from polymer-based teabags into the aqueous phase during typical usage", as the amounts seem exaggerated.

[–] DeltaSMC@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)
[–] Nalivai@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Yeah, if you increase concentration until it's visible you will get high concentration solution. By the same principle water is a deadly poison because scientists forse fed a bunch of rats liters of water until they died.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Do we have a standard for how long people keep their teabags in hot water?

'bout four minutes should be enough. Otherwise it just turns bitter. A few hours? 🤢