this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2025
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Summary

A new study from Spain’s Autonomous University of Barcelona reveals that tea bags made from nylon, polypropylene, and cellulose release billions of micro- and nanoplastic particles when steeped in boiling water.

These particles, which can enter human intestinal cells, may pose health risks, potentially affecting the digestive, respiratory, endocrine, and immune systems.

Researchers urge regulatory action to mitigate plastic contamination in food packaging.

Consumers are advised to use loose-leaf tea with stainless steel infusers or biodegradable tea bags to minimize exposure.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

This is why I simply tear open the tea bags and dump them into a fine mesh stainless steel basket and set it in the cup.

I have yet to find loose leaf tea tasty enough to repeat buy but I do have 3-4 flavors of bagged tea I always keep stocked.

The biggest downside to doing my favorite bagged teas this way is it’s a pain to clean out the metal basket when I just want another cup the next day, but to me the trade off on sidestepping the microplastic issue is worthwhile

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Cool, now do coffee pods.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think the new eu bottle caps as well(even when using milk cartons) becuse when you open it they usually have a piece sticking out on the cap that catches on the threads to keep it open, and sometimes i see small plastic pieces flying everywhere when i open one of them. Presumably the plastic catch is breaking pieces of the thread off.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I believe there was a study that plastic bottle cap seals release tens or hundreds of thousands of plastic particles upon breaking open, however I don't think they would be visible to the naked eye. More likely you are seeing dried up particles of whatever liquid is inside the container.

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

Yeah maybe. I just dont understand in general why we are using plastic. Aluminuim and glass fill basically evey usecase of plastic.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Glass is by far superior but shipping it is more costly and results in more breakage.

All aluminum food and drink containers still have a plastic liner in them to avoid corrosion. Still way better than fully plastic containers for most uses though.

[–] DudeImMacGyver 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Glass is heavier and more breakable, making it more expensive (read: less profitable for companies) . There's a limit to how much people will pay for stuff, so the more corners companies can cut to reduce their costs, the more money they make off of us and hope us consumers don't catch on that the overall quality has gone down.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Laws my guy. You can literally just tell big companies that they need to handle all the shit without placing any costs on consumers(which is literally what the eu did with usbc and repair) and companies as being machines that make max profit WILL find the most efficient way of doing it. This is why i believe in some forms of highly regulated capitalism, because it is extremely efficient in going arround these restrictions. Just tell them they are legally required to do something(and the fine is high enough that they are forced to do it) and they will find a way.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

We'll shit, I've been drinking a lot of tea...spose it's time to get out the Titanic tea steeper i got from White Elephant.

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