Microplastics and endocrine disruptors in chewing gum: implications for cellulite prevention
Microplastics in everyday life: chewing gum joins the list
Researching microplastics in chewing gum: study design and goals
How chewing gum releases microplastics: testing methods unveiled
Types of plastics in chewing gum: surprising findings
Endocrine disruptors and cellulite: microplastics’ hidden impact
Limits of microplastics research: what’s next for nanoplastics
Chewing gums: unintended sources of ingested microplastics in humans
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Microplastics in everyday life: chewing gum joins the list
A new study has revealed that chewing gum releases microplastics into saliva, adding to the growing list of everyday items that expose people to these tiny plastic particles.
Microplastics, ranging from one micrometre to five millimetres in size, are already known to come from products like cutting boards, clothing, and cleaning sponges.
This research now shows that both natural and synthetic chewing gums release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece when chewed, which could then be swallowed.
Researching microplastics in chewing gum: study design and goals
The study was conducted by researchers at a university in California, aiming to explore how many microplastics might be ingested from chewing gum, a popular product worldwide that had not been extensively studied in this context.
The team tested five brands of synthetic gum, made from petroleum-based polymers, and five brands of natural gum, derived from plant-based polymers like tree sap.
Contrary to their initial expectations that synthetic gums would release more microplastics due to their plastic base, the results showed that both types released similar amounts.
How chewing gum releases microplastics: testing methods unveiled
In the experiments, one person chewed seven pieces of each gum brand for four minutes, with saliva samples collected every 30 seconds and a final rinse combined into a single sample.
Another test tracked microplastic release over 20 minutes. The samples were analysed using a microscope, where particles were stained and counted, or through a method identifying their chemical makeup.
On average, 100 microplastics were released per gram of gum, with some pieces releasing up to 600 per gram. Given that a piece of gum typically weighs between two and six grams, a large piece could release as many as 3,000 microplastics.
For someone chewing 160 to 180 small sticks annually, this could mean ingesting around 30,000 microplastics from gum alone, significantly adding to the tens of thousands already consumed yearly through food, drinks, and packaging.
Types of plastics in chewing gum: surprising findings
Surprisingly, the types of plastics found - such as polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalates, polyacrylamides, and polystyrenes - were the same in both natural and synthetic gums, with polyolefins being the most common.
Most microplastics were released within the first two minutes of chewing, not due to saliva enzymes but from the abrasive action of chewing itself. After eight minutes, 94% of the detectable microplastics had detached.
The study suggests chewing a single piece for longer rather than switching to a new one could reduce exposure.
Endocrine disruptors and cellulite: microplastics’ hidden impact
Cellulite, influenced by estrogenic endocrine disruptors, may worsen with microplastics from chewing gum, as these particles can mimic hormones like oestrogen.
This study’s findings suggest that ingesting microplastics could complicate cellulite prevention and reduction, adding an unseen challenge to managing this condition, especially since microplastics’ full health impacts are still unknown, yet their presence in everyday items like gum is now evident.
Limits of microplastics research: what’s next for nanoplastics
Limited by equipment, the study only detected microplastics 20 micrometres or larger, hinting that smaller particles might also be present, requiring further research.
While the microplastics in saliva are only a fraction of those in the gum, the researchers note that discarded gum contributes to environmental plastic pollution if not disposed of properly.
Though the health impacts of microplastics remain uncertain, with no human trials yet, animal and cell studies suggest potential harm, prompting calls for caution.
Chewing gums: unintended sources of ingested microplastics in humans
Research paper link: https://acs.digitellinc.com/live/34/session/545928
Abstract: Chewing gum is commonly used worldwide to freshen breath, promote oral health, and deliver medications. However, it contains plant-based or synthetic plastic polymers to enhance texture and flavor retention, making it a source of microplastics. These microplastics can be ingested through saliva produced while chewing gum. The exact amount of microplastics a person may ingest from gum has not been quantified. We aim to examine the release of microplastics from chewing gum during their consumption. 10 natural and synthetic gums were chewed by a human subject for a specific period (2 min to 20 min), and the saliva results during chewing were collected and analyzed for microplastics using an FTIR microscope and smartphone-enabled method to quantify microplastics. The results reveal that each gram of gum can release up to 637 microplastic particles, with 94% being released within the first 8 minutes of chewing. Interestingly, synthetic gums released a similar amount of microplastics as natural, plant-based gums (p > 0.8). Most of the released microplastics were small, with a median size of 45.4 µm, though smaller particles might have been missed due to the limitations of detection methods like FTIR. Four main plastic polymers were detected in the saliva, with polyolefins being the most common. These findings suggest that chewing gum may lead to the direct ingestion of microplastics, potentially posing health risks.
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