Summary
A Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona study reveals that polymer-based tea bags release millions to billions of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPLs) into tea when brewed.
These particles, derived from materials like nylon-6 and polypropylene, can enter human intestinal cells, even reaching cell nuclei.
Using advanced techniques, researchers characterized the released particles and found mucus-producing intestinal cells absorbed them most readily.
The study highlights potential health risks from chronic exposure and calls for standardised testing and regulatory policies to address MNPL contamination in food packaging, a growing concern for food safety and public health.
I’m assuming this only is true with those stupid nylon tea bags. Paper tea bags are still a thing.
Not to burst your bubble but most conventional paper tea bags still have plastics in the adhesive to keep them together. Have to go out of your way to find products that avoid it.
Or loose tea and a strainer or tea ball.
For what it’s worth, it does say “polymer based tea bags”, so the way I’m interpreting that is that paper tea bags would at least be better
No doubt! The nylon bags are all around terrible. Just not safe with any off the shelf paper bag either (looking at you Tazo & Teavana…). If it’s compostable, should be okay.
I’ll never forgive Starbucks for what they did to Teavana!
That aside, I think anybody who ever tasted a triangle bag tea knows they’re bad for you. They taste awful! Like plastic! I’m shocked they’re still for sale.
Correct. Compostable tea bags are still paper or cloth and contain only a tiny staple that won’t decompose.
But not the pyramid shaped bags. They contain food-grade plastics. No compost pile for those.
Check the label - it should say 100% biodegradable or something. Some of them look like paper but have a plastic web inside. https://youtu.be/limwsUnH4iQ