The problem of plastic pollution
A team of scientists from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Spain) points out that plastic pollution is a serious ecological challenge with an increasing impact on human health, including that of future generations. The main source of micro- and nanoplastics is food packaging, and humans are exposed to them primarily through inhalation and ingestion.
Microplastics in tea bags
Spanish researchers, using advanced analytical techniques, analyzed in detail the micro- and nanoplastics released from various types of tea bags available on the market. The results indicate that the amount of particles released is enormous.
The tested bags were made of nylon, polypropylene and cellulose. When brewing the tea, the polypropylene bags released as many as 1.2 billion plastic particles per milliliter, cellulose – 135 million, and nylon – just over 8 million.
“Thanks to modern techniques, we managed to innovatively characterize these pollutants. This is an important step towards understanding the potential effects of their impact on human health,” he emphasizes Alba García, author of a study published in the magazine “Chemosphere”.
Microplastic particles even in the cell nucleus
Scientists went a step further, resulting in disturbing discoveries. The colored plastic particles were exposed to different types of human intestinal cells. It turned out that mucus-producing cells absorbed the most micro- and nanoplastics, and these particles even penetrated the cell nucleus containing genetic material.
These results demonstrate the key role of intestinal mucus in the absorption of plastic particles and highlight the need for further research into the effects of long-term exposure.
“It is necessary to develop standardized methods for assessing micro- and nanoplastic contamination from plastic food packaging. It is also important to introduce legal regulations limiting this phenomenon to ensure food safety and protection of public health,” the scientists appeal.
