The second most consumed drink in the world after water, tea has become very popular. In France, its consumption has tripled over the past 25 years and 2 out of 3 French people drink it regularly.
Whether you buy it in a specialty store or a supermarket, the tea is packaged in bulk or in individual bags. Did you know that these little tea bags can contain plastic?
16 micrograms of plastic in your cup of tea
According to a study published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology in 2019, researchers at mcgill university in montreal, quebec, conducted experiments on tea bags. They chose four of different brands, two of which had sachets. nylon and two with sachets in PET polymer (polyethylene terephthalate). The researchers then reproduced the usual infusion conditions. After extracting the tea leaves to keep only the sachets, they were washed and then infused in hot water for 5 min at 95 ° C.
The results are edifying. A single tea bag releases nearly 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics in water, of which nearly 20% nanoparticles of diameter less than 100 nanometers. A cup of tea would then contain 16 micrograms of plastic. “If we compare with other foods contaminated with microplastics, that’s a lot”, underlines Nathalie Tufenkji, principal author of the study and professor in chemical engineering.
In 2020, the BBC also took an interest in the subject and worked with the University of East Anglia to conduct their own tests on six of Britain’s biggest tea brands. The emptied bags were placed for five days in a special solution (copper and ammonia) which dissolved any material other than plastic. Tests have shown that some sachets degraded and decomposed easily while others contained large amounts of plastic, polypropylene, non-biodegradable.
To date, the impact of these plastic nanoparticles on health is unknown. Microplastics are everywhere, in rivers, seas and oceans. Their impact on the environment, drinking water and health are being studied. ANSES (National Health Security Agency) is carrying out work in this direction.
An alternative to tea bags
While awaiting further results, Canadian researchers therefore recommend giving priority to loose tea or in a paper bag. In addition, an alternative is starting to develop to alleviate the consumption of microplastics, it is the powdered tea. You may already know matcha which is one of the best known. Matcha & Co also offers 4 traditional teas: English Breakfast, jasmine tea, Rooibos and Earl Gray. The tea contains no additives, coloring or preservatives and should be dissolved in water or milk. In this way, all the nutrients and antioxidants from the ground tea leaves are absorbed by the body.
Sources:
- Microplastics, a risk for the environment and health , Handles
- Some plastic with your tea? McGill University (Quebec), 2019
- BBC video report “Teabags: Which brands contain plastic?”, September 2020.
Read also :
- Microplastics in baby bottles: how to limit the risks?
- Tea, filter coffee … These drinks that don’t hydrate as much as you think
- Antioxidants: focus on white tea
- Nanomaterials: which foods contain the most?
