Recent surveys have highlighted the presence microplastic particles on tea sachets, raising questions about the possible effects on human health.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles of less than 5mm in diameter, which are now widely detected in our daily lives, from fabrics and packaging to food to drinking liquids.
A 2024 study revealed that sachets Made from polypropylene they release about 1.2 billion plastic microparticles per milliliter during the tea preparation process. According to Professor Mark R. Wiesner of Duke University, this is a significant amount of microplastics.
However, despite the established presence of microplastics, the scientific community does not yet have sufficient data to reach safe conclusions on the immediate impact on human health.
Although there are signs of connection to inflammatory bowel diseases, cardiovascular problems and carcinogenesis, existing studies remain limited and mainly observational.
For example, Suzhao Li, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado, has found in laboratory studies that microplastics activate inflammatory responses, as the immune system recognizes them as foreign bodies. Although this research provides an explanation for the possible correlations of microplastics and inflammatory situations, such as Crohn’s disease or atherosclerosis, it is still at a preliminary stage.
It is worth noting, however, that not all tea sachets are the same. There are sachets of paper (fiber, cellulose, wood, cannabis), plastics (nylon, polypropylene) and biodegradable materials (polygopic acid). Paper sachets are considered safer to release microplastics, but are not free of them, as plastic material is often used for sealing or as a coating.
For example, a 2021 study in Ireland showed that five of six popular chips of tea sachets contained traces of plastic, with four of them being made of paper.
Practices to reduce exposure to microplastics include:
- Selection of tea on leaves instead of sachets, as the risk of exposure is minimized.
- Using paper folders, aware that they do not completely exclude the presence of microplastics.
- Proposal the envelopes in room temperature water, which is then rejected to reduce the amount of microplastics.
- Avoiding the tea reheating with the sachet inside, as the release of microplastics can be further increased.
The scientific community continues to study the impact of exposure to microplasticsand until the acquisition of more clear data, the adoption of preventive practices is a rational choice.