(NaturalHealth365)  Most of us start the day with a comforting cup of coffee or tea – and barely think twice about what’s in it.  But a new UK study published in Science of The Total Environment reveals a hidden danger: microplastics (MPs) are lurking in nearly every hot and cold beverage you drink.

From hot coffee to iced tea, juices, and energy drinks, researchers found microplastics in all 155 beverages tested, with hot drinks showing the highest contamination.  Hot tea topped the list at 60 microplastics per liter, while hot coffee averaged 43 MPs per liter.  Even cold beverages, such as iced coffee and soft drinks, weren’t safe, containing up to 37 and 17 micrograms per liter, respectively.

How the study was done

The researchers took a meticulous approach to measure real-life exposure:

1. Beverage testing: They bought 155 samples of popular hot and cold beverages, including coffee, tea, energy drinks, juices, and soft drinks.  Samples were prepared using glass or metal equipment to avoid contamination and analyzed in a clean-room environment.

2. Microplastic detection: Using advanced Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FTIR) micro-spectroscopy, they identified and counted only synthetic plastic microplastics, ignoring natural fibers like cellulose that aren’t as persistent in the environment.

3. Human consumption data: An online survey of 201 UK adults assessed the typical daily consumption of each beverage.

4. Exposure estimation: By combining MPs per liter with real-life consumption data, the study found that adults ingest 1.6–1.7 MPs per kilogram of body weight per day, which is far higher than estimates based on water alone.

Why these findings matter

This study is alarming because most previous research underestimated exposure.  Until now, scientists have focused only on drinking water, but beverages make up a significant portion of daily fluid intake.  Hot drinks, in particular, release more microplastics due to the heat’s effect on plastic packaging.  Even your coffee cup or tea bag can be a source of microplastics.

While research on the long-term health effects of microplastics in humans is still emerging, studies suggest MPs can carry toxic chemicals, trigger inflammation, and accumulate in the body over time.  In other words, they’re not just in your drink.  They may be quietly affecting your health every day.

Real-life solutions to reduce your exposure

The good news?  You can take steps to reduce exposure:

• Choose glass or stainless steel over plastic when making or storing hot beverages.

• Avoid plastic-lined disposable cups for coffee or tea.

• Consider loose-leaf tea instead of plastic tea bags.

• Filter tap water if you plan to use it for beverages, and limit your consumption of drinks from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles.

• Rotate your beverage choices to include naturally microplastic-free options, such as herbal infusions prepared in ceramic or glass.

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Sources for this article include:

Sciencedirect.com
Medicalxpress.com