Story perspectives

Plastic Tea Bags Release Up to 2,498 Microplastics per Cup

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

Read the story

Story summary

Summary

Turkish researchers at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University found plastic tea bags release 555-2,498 microplastics per cup.
The microplastics were polyamide fibers originating from the bags themselves.
BPA and several phthalates were detected in every plastic-bagged tea sample.
BPA intake from a cup could reach 21.7% of the EFSA tolerable daily limit.
Researchers warned DEHP may pose long-term cancer risk for heavy tea drinkers.

1 of 1

Turkish researchers at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University found plastic tea bags release 555-2,498 microplastics per cup.
The microplastics were polyamide fibers originating from the bags themselves.
BPA and several phthalates were detected in every plastic-bagged tea sample.
BPA intake from a cup could reach 21.7% of the EFSA tolerable daily limit.
Researchers warned DEHP may pose long-term cancer risk for heavy tea drinkers.