Researchers warn that a single piece of chewing gum can release up to 3,000 microplastics that enter the body. Exposure to microplastics may increase health risks, including dementia and cancer.
Recent research suggests that our exposure to microplastics, coming from various sources, could negatively affect health in the long term.
Microplastics: An Increasing Problem
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring between 1 micrometer and 5 millimeters. They come from various sources, including everyday items such as chewing gum, water bottles, tea bags, or even synthetic fiber clothing. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that certain human brains contain up to 7 grams of plastic, which could be associated with dementia.
Previous studies have already established that microplastics are present in the human body through food, beverages, packaging, and even through manufacturing processes. However, chewing gum has not been extensively researched until now as a significant source of microplastics.
The UCLA Researchers’ Study
Professor Sanjay Mohanty and graduate student Lisa Lowe conducted an experiment to evaluate the amount of microplastics released by chewing gum, comparing natural gums with synthetic ones. Synthetic gums are made from petroleum-based polymers, while natural gums use plant-based polymers, such as chicle or other tree saps. Both types of gum were tested on a group of participants who chewed pieces of gum for four minutes, and the researchers collected saliva to analyze the microplastic content.
The results were surprising: both types of gum, natural and synthetic, released significant amounts of microplastics. On average, a piece of gum released 100 microplastics per gram, but some pieces released up to 600 microplastic particles per gram. Considering that a typical piece of gum weighs between 2 and 6 grams, this means that a piece of gum can release up to 3,000 plastic particles into the mouth.
Impact on Health
Each year, an average person chews between 160 and 180 pieces of gum, which means they could ingest approximately 30,000 microplastics. Although researchers are still unsure of the exact effects of microplastics on human health, there are concerns that they may contribute to serious conditions such as dementia, cancer, and heart diseases. Studies on animals and human cells suggest that microplastics could harm the body.
Additionally, the microplastics released by gum are not the only problem. The ways in which they are disposed of in the environment, such as gum thrown on sidewalks or stuck to walls, contribute to plastic pollution.
What Can We Do to Reduce the Risk?
To limit exposure to microplastics, researchers suggest that people avoid chewing a new piece of gum immediately after finishing another piece, as most plastic particles detach in the first two minutes of chewing. Furthermore, chewing a piece of gum for a longer period may reduce the risk of ingesting microplastics, considering that chewing is sufficiently vigorous to cause plastic detachment.
