2026-04-29 13:01:31

Tea bags could be flooding brews with billions of microscopic plastic particles.

A major review of 19 studies by researchers in Iran and the UK found a single dry tea bag can contain around 1.3 billion plastic particles. When brewed, that figure can soar to as many as 14.7 billion as heat breaks materials down.

Tea bags made from nylon and PET, a common plastic, were among the worst offenders.

Experts say contamination can come from the material itself or from the manufacturing process.

Microplastics have already been found in human blood, lungs and liver, raising concerns about long-term exposure.

Scientists warn the full health impact is still unclear, but lab studies suggest possible links to inflammation, cellular damage and oxidative stress.

A 2024 study by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona found some tea bags released around 1.2 billion particles per millilitre under test conditions.

Researchers said some particles were small enough to interact with human cells and potentially reach areas where genetic material is stored.

Despite many brands claiming to be “plastic free”, a Which? investigation found only four out of 28 popular tea brands fully met that standard.

Many companies have swapped traditional plastics for polylactic acid, or PLA, a plant-based alternative. But experts say it is still a form of plastic and may break down into microscopic fragments in hot water.

Major supermarkets and brands including Aldi, Tesco, PG Tips and Yorkshire Tea were found to use plastic-related materials in some products.

Scientists say microplastics are now widespread and hard to avoid completely.

But they suggest switching to loose leaf tea or verified plastic-free bags could help reduce exposure.

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