Chewing gum isn’t essentially the healthiest of habits, but it surely definitely appeared like a comparatively innocent vice… till now. A brand new examine reveals that only one piece of chewing gum can shed 1000’s of microplastics into your saliva1.
At this level, it could be simpler to make a listing of locations microplastics aren’t. Scientists have discovered these tiny particles of plastic all over the place from oceans to ice caps2, within the leaves of vegetation and the air we breathe, and naturally, in our our bodies. Microplastics have been detected in amniotic fluid3, blood4, and even in our brains.
Need extra information on microplastics? Join the publication for extra well-researched, non-toxic dwelling steerage and good wellness recommendation.
Whereas some sources of microplastic contamination are apparent, like plastic bottles and packaging, scientists have additionally discovered that one thing so simple as the teabag in your morning cuppa might enhance your publicity. And now, we are able to add chewing gum to the record of unusual sources of microplastics.
New Analysis Reveals Chewing Gum is Riddled with Plastic
Researchers from the UCLA Samueli College of Engineering just lately examined 10 in style manufacturers of chewing gum, discovering {that a} single gram might launch a mean of 100 microplastics into the chewer’s saliva. Bigger items of gum have been discovered to launch as much as 3,000 plastic particles — 94% of which have been launched through the first eight minutes of chewing.
Whereas these outcomes sound fairly stunning, they’re no shock in the event you truly contemplate what goes into this seemingly innocent deal with: a less-than-innocent ingredient known as polyethylene.
What Is Polyethylene?
Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer that’s recognized for its versatility. It’s gentle, low cost to provide, and has some significantly helpful qualities — it’s immune to chemical substances and moisture, and has electrical insulation properties.
Producers make nice use of this versatility, profiting from it in all the pieces from procuring baggage to bottles of detergent and car gasoline tanks. It’s additionally utilized in Ziploc baggage, which a proposed class-action lawsuit is at present alleging shouldn’t be microwaved or frozen because of the doable launch of microplastics. The truth is, it’s probably the most extensively used plastic on this planet5. However what enterprise does it have in our chewing gum?
Sadly, most gum manufacturers depend on polyethylene to assist contribute to the product’s chewy texture. And it’s not simply artificial gum we must be anxious about — all-natural manufacturers are responsible of releasing plastic, too. The UCLA researchers examined each artificial and pure chewing gums, discovering {that a} comparable variety of plastic particles have been launched no matter the kind of gum.
Different potential plastics in chewing gum embrace polyvinyl acetate, which is a standard ingredient in glue and mascara, or styrene-butadiene rubber, which you’ll discover in tires. (Scrumptious, no?)
The pervasiveness of microplastics is worrisome for extra causes than one. Plastics are made with a mix of polymers and chemical components, a few of which may have devastating results on the setting and our planet’s delicate ecosystems6. Microplastics are additionally hazardous to human well being, with potential destructive results on respiratory operate and hormone well being. Microplastic publicity may even enhance the chance of growing most cancers, based on a 2023 analysis evaluation in Yonsei Medical Journal7.
Whereas microplastics are onerous to keep away from as of late, there are nonetheless sure steps shoppers can take to scale back publicity as a lot as doable (spoiler: microplastics in gum in all probability aren’t the worst offender). Lowering reliance on plastic storage containers and utensils is one nice solution to maintain from including extra plastic into your life, and so is reducing again on all the pieces from plastic water bottles to PTFE nonstick cookware.
Learn Extra on Natural Authority
Sources:
- https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/bursting-your-bubble-chewing-gum-releases-microplastics-into-your-saliva-ucla-research-shows
- https://www.innovations-report.com/agriculture-environment/ecology-the-environment-and-conservation/microplastics-found-in-europes-largest-ice-cap/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38382607/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-81931-9
- https://www.britannica.com/science/polyethylene
- https://ipen.org/web site/plastics-toxic-additives
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10151227/
