A very concerning article was just published in Nature about how certain types of tea bags release excessive amounts of microplastics into the water you are consuming! The authors state, “Exposure to hot water can trigger the hydrolytic degradation and thermal decomposition of polymer chains, potentially releasing billions of micro and nanoscale particles from the packaging into the beverage.” YIKES!
What is most disheartening to me is the fact that many of us have consumed teas in these “silky” bags for years. The key type of tea bags that are implicated in this microplastic/nanoplastic dump into the beverage are the polymeric tea bags, which are made partly or entirely from synthetic plastic polymers, rather than 100% natural fibers. Synthetic plastics like nylon, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), or polyamide (PA) are often woven into smooth, "silky" pyramid-shaped mesh bags.
Unfortunately, the plastics used in these tea bags are often “enriched” with various additives, like bisphenol A (BPA), to add flexibility and thermal resistance. Established research has shown the BPA is an endocrine disrupter, can disturb reproductive function, and is also implicated in cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity!! I go into detail about BPA and other related toxins in my book Optimized, in Chapter 8: Chemicals, drugs, and toxins.
So not only are you being exposed to micro and nano-plastics in these silky tea bags, you are getting the additional toxins like BPA. I have repeatedly reviewed the risks of microplastics in this blog, please review the archive.
Avoid the “silky” tea bags, and go for the natural, unbleached tea paper derived from plant fibers, if possible. Or even better, get the bulk, loose leaf tea and steep in a stainless steel container. Enjoy your tea without the health risks!
