this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2024
159 points (99.4% liked)

Danger Dust

312 readers
4 users here now

A community for those occupationally exposed to dusts, toxins, pollutants, hazardous materials or noxious environments

Dangerous Dusts , Fibres, Toxins, Pollutants, Occupational Hazards, Stonemasonry, Construction News and Environmental Issues

#Occupational Diseases

#Autoimmune Diseases

#Silicosis

#Cancer

#COPD

#Chronic Fatigue

#Hazardous Materials

#Kidney Disease

#Pneumoconiosis

#The Environment

#Pollutants

#Pesticides

and more

Please be nice to each other and follow the rules : []https://mastodon.world/about

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

UAB research has characterized in detail how polymer-based commercial tea bags release millions of nanoplastics and microplastics when infused. The study shows for the first time the capacity of these particles to be absorbed by human intestinal cells, and are thus able to reach the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.

top 32 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 45 points 4 months ago (1 children)

This is one I wish I hadn't read 😮‍💨

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

No shit. I drink detox tea all the time.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Lol my uncle bought me this set of nice teas all wrapped in little nylon pyramids. Threw that shit straight in the trash

[–] [email protected] 35 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Username doesn't check out

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 months ago

I got plastics on my mind, I got plastics in my brain, I don't want any more cause its driving me insane

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Coulda just ripped the bag open and done loose leaf. Or place in an infuser.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Not really, its already contaminated with tiny fibers.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Mitigation is important. Abstinence is pointless. Microplastics are everywhere.

I just thought it was overkill and seemed kinda wasteful. It's not asbestos. You could have re-gifted to a conservative family member if you think it's so bad. Play the long con.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I agree for the most part, I just avoid plastic where I can. I think my mom ended up drinking them. I don't see a point in trying to regift or pawn off plastic, it belongs in the trash in my view.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Hey, fair enough

[–] [email protected] 18 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I remember reading something like this about a decade ago. It's why I much prefer loose leaf tea and use a metal sieve/strainer.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I have a French press. Think I'll start brewing my tea in that now. Thanks

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Is there a way to tell whether teabags use these materials? It's not really something listed in the ingredients

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago (3 children)

I have bad news: even "non-plastic" tea bags have plastic fibres woven into the paper/cloth. These fibres allow the material to be sealed with heat. Best to use loose leaf and a strainer.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (3 children)

even “non-plastic” tea bags have plastic fibers woven into the paper/cloth.

Source? For example the clipper website says they don’t use plastic, how do you know it still has plastic? https://www.clipper-teas.com/tea-talk/plastic-free-tea-bags/

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago

Read that link carefully, there's a lot of flowery language but they do not say their bags are plastic-free.

[–] Nythos 7 points 4 months ago (2 children)

There is also this page that says which tea brand don’t use plastics with sources to the announcement.

Unless they were talking about PLA plastics which from a (very) quick search seems to pose no risk

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I have more bad news: [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724007307](Are bioplastics safe? Hazardous effects of polylactic acid (PLA) nanoplastics in Drosophila)

[–] Nythos 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Your study is from 1/4/24 the one I linked is from 26/6/24

Or am I just being a muppet here?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Silly me. Glad that is resolved.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Findings from a new meta-study sponsored by Holland Bioplastics, Futerro, TotalEnergies Corbion, and NatureWorks reveal that PLA ‘eventually’ fully hydrolyses and biodegrades in the environment

This is the summary blurb at the top of the article.

I would be very skeptical of ingesting something and believing it harmless if the study finds that it eventually breaks down in the environment, let alone it’s clearly funded by a company with ‘bioplastics’ in the company name.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

National institute of health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10389239/ If a company makes a claim that their bags are 100% plastic free, that is great. Just don't assume that paper bag = no plastic.

By the way: the clipper website says they use PLA, which is a plastic - just not a petroleum plastic. Its health effects are being investigated.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

I drink Barry's which say they are 100% plastic free and biodegradable, but now I wonder how to find out if that is true.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

So my tea bags that have a little staple to keep it together might be okay?

Edit: The other kind I have is the top folded over and the string tied through it, but no staple.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

A staple is probably a good sign. I think the thermosealed ones have a crimped edge

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Linked Source here. Sample 3 is a round teabag which is a distinct feature of Tetley tea. Although I'm sure other brands may use that design too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

some brands write on their packaging that the bags are plant based. pukka is one of them, PG tips another.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

Well, I guess I better not throw out all my tea bags just before Christmas.

"Oh. You got me... cancer. Thanks."

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Call me plastic-man 🤪

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Yeah that study convinced my wife and I to switch to lose leaf