Teabags & Microplastic: Are We Paying a Steep Price for That Cup of Tea? by Donna John

Headlines
4 years ago

Teabags & Microplastic: Are We Paying a Steep Price for That Cup of Tea?

Milk? Sugar? Lemon? Microplastics? Say what? According to a study from McGill University, around 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion even smaller nanoplastic particles are leached into tea from teabags.

How does one conduct a study of teabags? The researchers purchased four different commercial teas that were packed in plastic teabags. The bags were cut open and the tea removed so it didn’t affect the results of the study. Boiling water was then introduced to the party to simulate making tea at home. The study was published in the American Chemical Society journal, Environmental Science & Technology.

A separate study from the University of Newcastle in Australia found that we consume about 5 grams of plastic each week – about the weight of a credit card.

Even though the World Health Organization (WHO) recently stated that microplastics “don’t appear to pose a health risk at current levels,” who wants plastic in their glass or cup of tea? Strong pass. WHO did say that more research is needed on how microplastics affect the body.

Did you know that many tea producers use polypropylene to seal their bags? What is polypropylene, you might ask? Polypropylene is "a thermoplastic 'addition polymer' made from the combination of propylene monomers ... it has a low density relative to other common plastics, which translates to weight savings for manufacturers," according to Creative Mechanisms. Sounds appealing to mix with your tea, right?

Before you cross tea off your shopping list, a good alternative would be to steep loose tea instead of grabbing that teabag. This can be done with a tea infuser or in a loose tea pot. Loose tea comes in all different varieties and flavors, so this might break you out of your black tea funk – though there's nothing better than a good glass of iced black tea.

Will you continue using teabags? Tell us why or why not below. 

The content on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal healthcare provider. The opinions or views expressed on 30Seconds.com do not necessarily represent those of 30Seconds or any of its employees, corporate partners or affiliates.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get inspiration in your newsfeed daily. Inspire and be inspired.

Related Products on Amazon We Think You May Like:

30Second Mobile, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Creamy Sweet Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream Recipe: 4 Ingredients, No Ice Cream Maker

Climate Report Warns of Damage to the World’s Oceans: Why the Choices We Make Now Are Critical for the Future of Our Oceans & Cryosphere

A Toast to Tea Time: Possible Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea!

Save the Planet: Study Finds That Millions of Plant & Animal Species Are at Risk of Extinction

Elisa Schmitz
This is absolutely crazy! As a huge tea drinker, I am so sad about this. Microplastics are in everything, so awful! I have re-discovered my tea infuser. Just today, I made a lovely pot of loose jasmine green tea and sliced up some organic ginger. Steeped it for five minutes and voila! Delicious (and hopefully no microplastics)! (See photo!) Thanks for this important info, Donna John .
Donna John
After I try my tea infuser, will probably buy one of the teapots, too. :-)
Donna John
I drink tea every day, so I am with you on the concerns. I just ordered the Stainless Steel Loose Leaf Tea Infuser (Set of 2) $16 from the list above. I'm done with the bland taste of most teabags anyway. Ready to move on to flavorful teas -- without the plastics! Elisa All Schmitz 30Seconds
Nicole DeAvilla
This is so disconcerting! Are paper tea bags OK? Of course, I guess it may be hard to tell what the tea bags are made of - no label requirements I would guess.
There also is a brand that says the tea bags are made of silk. So wondering about them too.
Gwen Johnson
Get out! This is frightening. As much tea as I've drank in my life, I should be completely plastic by now. Going to consider loose tea.
Donna John
After completely overthinking which loose tea to order, decided to try the VAHDAM tea sampler. Just made my first glass, iced, and in an Astros glass because we just won our first playoff game. Woop! Really liking the Assam Exotic. Elisa All Schmitz 30Seconds Gwen Johnson Nicole DeAvilla

join discussion

Please login to comment.

recommended tips

Happy International Women’s Day: Celebrating Women's Achievement & Driving Gender Equality

Volunteering: Gain Marketable Jobs Skills Through Helping Others!