Chewing Gum Contains Hidden Microplastics, Study Reveals

Rapid summary

• A pilot study presented at the American Chemical Society spring meeting reveals that chewing gum may introduce up to 3,000 microplastic particles into saliva, potentially leading to ingestion.
• Researchers Sanjay Mohanty and Lisa Lowe from UCLA studied microplastics released by natural gums (plant-based polymers) and synthetic gums (petroleum-based polymers). Surprisingly, both types released similar amounts of microplastics when chewed.
• Testing involved one participant chewing five brands of each type for 4 and 20 minutes. Most microplastics were shed within the first 8 minutes due to abrasion from chewing itself.
• An average of 100 microplastic particles per gram was isolated, while a larger piece of gum correlated with around 600-3,000 total particles being released into saliva.
• Possible health implications remain unclear as no human trials exist yet; though, studies on animal models suggest harm from exposure to microplastics.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The study underscores concerns surrounding daily exposure to microplastics-already documented in food packaging and water sources-with chewing gum adding another unexamined source. For India, where plastic pollution is a growing issue due to widespread use in consumer products, the findings could be significant in encouraging stricter regulations on synthetic materials used in items like gum or promoting education about lasting alternatives such as plant-based gums.

Moreover,while health impacts are uncertain for now outside laboratory settings involving animals or cells cultures,raising awareness about reducing plastic consumption aligns with India’s broader environmental initiatives like single-use plastic bans.Public discourse can foster healthier choices among Indian consumers while addressing non-biodegradable waste management challenges more holistically.

Read More