For me, chewing gum is a momentary indulgence.

It relieves stress.

But am I missing something?

Here’s my concern after reading a new study:

Chewing gum, whether natural or synthetic, can be a significant source of microplastic ingestion.

Honestly, I suspect that I need not be particularly concerned as the amount of microplastics is low.

It is an unfortunate reminder of how we have poisoned our environment.

A Pilot Study

Could a single piece of gum put me in harm’s way?

A new study offers limited evidence that the answer may be yes.

Researchers discovered that a single piece of gum can release 637 microplastic articles per gram.

Synthetic gums release a similar amount of microplastics as natural, plant-based ones.

I’ll be okay, right?

After all, I only chew gum for a few minutes; when the taste goes, so does the chewing gum.

But there is this:

The majority of microplastics are released within eight minutes of chewing.

One more problem: I am heading to Singapore this year.

Have you heard about Singapore’s infamous ban on chewing gum?

Singapore: A Sticky Situation (Solved)

On January 3, 1992, Singapore banned gum manufacture, sale, or importation.

Upon arrival, all must declare any gum or face the consequences.

But why such a drastic measure?

Singapore’s gleaming, efficient Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system became an unexpected battleground.

In the sweltering months of summer 1991, the gum lodged itself between train doors and caused malfunctions.

These incidents weren’t minor inconveniences; they stopped trains, forced passengers to disembark, and disrupted the city’s vital transportation network.

Beyond the MRT, the careless disposal of chewing gum created a persistent and costly cleaning nightmare in public spaces, from cinema seats to housing.

Does It Matter?

And so we come to this vital question: Does it matter that my chewing gum has bits of microplastic in it?

• Current Scientific Understanding: As of now (April 1, 2025), the direct health impacts of ingesting microplastics at the levels found in chewing gum (or even from other common sources like water bottles, food, and air) are not well-established or fully understood. Research is ongoing, but there isn’t conclusive evidence yet to say that the amount ingested from occasional gum chewing causes specific harm or is clinically relevant.
• Ubiquitous Exposure: Microplastics are unfortunately everywhere in our environment. Chewing gum is just one potential source among many we encounter daily.
• The Environmental Reminder: Your point is well-taken — it is a stark reminder of widespread plastic pollution and its infiltration into seemingly everyday items.
• Conclusion on Risk: While the study shows gum is a source of microplastic ingestion, current scientific consensus doesn’t label this specific exposure route as a significant, defined health risk compared to other environmental exposures. It’s a low-level exposure in the broader context, though the long-term effects of cumulative microplastic exposure are still an active area of research. So, while not zero, the immediate risk from the gum itself appears minimal based on current knowledge.

I’m not giving up my occasional gum (except in Singapore).

Your thoughts?

The post Am I Swallowing Microplastics Every Time I Chew Gum? appeared first on Medika Life.

That Reusable Water Bottle Might Be Killing You (Slowly)

A bit hyperbolic, I grant, but the truth might surprise you.

medium.com

You’re Drinking Plastic: How Tea Bags Are Harming Your Gut

I love tea.

medium.com

It’s a topic that keeps becoming more alarming, and a new study has added to the confusion.

We already know these tiny plastic particles, manufactured or broken down from larger plastics, damage our environment.

Past research has linked microplastics to a higher risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, lung disease, and even cancer.

The average person ingests tens of thousands of these particles yearly through the water, food, and air we drink.

New Research on Microplastics and Dementia

And now, this latest research has me even more concerned.

A team led by Dr. Matthew Campen at the University of New Mexico has discovered something disturbing:

Microplastic levels in the brain are significantly higher than in other organs like the liver and kidneys.

This finding, published this month in Nature Medicine, raises serious questions about what these particles do to our brains.

I will explore what this could mean for our health, particularly concerning conditions like dementia.

Polyethylene — Most Common Brain Microplastic

Researchers analyzed brain tissue samples from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator collected between 2016 and 2024.

The study examined human brain microplastic concentrations.

Could these tiny particles pose a threat to our neurological health?

The investigators developed a technique that allowed them to identify 12 polymer types in the brain.

Polyethylene — a plastic widely used in bags, packaging, water pipes, and insulation — was the most common polymer in the brain.

Upon analysis of the study’s findings, researchers found this:

Microplastic concentrations were much greater in the brain than in other body areas, including the liver, kidneys, placenta, and testes.

High Brain Microplastics Linked to Dementia

The association does not imply a causal relationship, but this finding particularly struck me:

Brain tissue from individuals diagnosed with dementia had up to 10 times more microplastics than those without the disease.

Their study showed brain tissue to have a high concentration of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs).

Their study revealed a high concentration of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in these areas.

This finding raises crucial questions about the mechanisms by which MNPs reach brain tissue, the processes involved, and how they might contribute to nerve degeneration.

Further research is needed to understand these pathways and their potential impact on neurological health.

Protecting Your Brain From Microplastics

Here are some ways you might protect your body (including your brain) from microplastics:

• Use reusable containers, avoiding plastics where possible
• Minimize single-use plastic use (and certainly do not use it over and over)
• Choose foods (including seafood) that are from sources with fewer microplastics

• Minimize ultra-processed food consumption

Potential risk of microplastics in processed foods: Preliminary risk assessment.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Don’t heat plastic food packaging.
• Avoid bottled water. I prefer filtered tap water.
• Vacuum your home frequently. Invest in a HEPA vacuum device.
• Have a good ventilation system at home (and ideally at work, too)
• Wear natural clothing (such as organic cotton or hemp instead of synthetic fibers)
• Avoid air pollution if possible

Remember: Much global plastic production is used to package food and beverages.

However, this plastic is susceptible to wear and tear during use, which fragments the material into tiny particles known as microplastics.

What are your thoughts? Am I overly concerned about microplastics? It is a de minimus risk?

The post Dementia’s Silent Thief: Could Microplastics Be the Culprit? appeared first on Medika Life.

I have begun to worry about these minuscule particles.

Recent research findings caught my eye. Did you know that boiling tap water effectively removes 90 percent of microplastics?

Today, I will explore the problem of environmental microplastics before turning to this new finding.

The “plastic age.”

They permeate the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil beneath our feet and have emerged as an omnipresent concern.

Their pervasive presence in global drinking water and food supplies raises alarming questions.

How do microplastics influence the environment and our health?

As we navigate this landscape of microscopic pollutants, unraveling the intricate web of implications surrounding microplastics and contemplating sustainable solutions for a healthier future is imperative.

Some researchers even call this the “Plastic Age.”

My concern

Plastic is everywhere in our oceans and Great Lakes, making it the most common type of trash floating around.

This plastic comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The National Ocean Services explains that when it’s smaller than five millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser), we call it “microplastics.”

A groundbreaking study recently shook me.

Scientists reported that the bottled water you can buy at the store could have 10 to 100 times more small bits of plastic than we previously thought . These tiny particles are so small you can’t see them with a regular microscope.

One liter, 240,000 tiny particles

In simpler terms, researchers discovered this:

One liter of water, about the same as two regular-sized bottled waters, contains around 240,000 tiny plastic pieces.

These plastic bits come from seven different types of plastics. Most of them, about 90%, are what we call “nanoplastics,” which are incredibly small.

The rest are “microplastics,” which are a bit bigger but still tiny.

Into the lungs and gut

At 1,000th the average width of a human hair, nanoplastics are so tiny they can migrate through the tissues of the digestive tract or lungs into the bloodstream, distributing potentially harmful synthetic chemicals throughout the body and into cells, experts say.

The tiny plastic particles can sneak into individual cells and tissues in our major organs, causing potential disruptions in how our cells work.

They also bring along harmful chemicals like bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants, and PFAS, which are known for interfering with our hormones, among other things.

When plastics get inside us, they release these chemicals, and because our bodies are warmer than the environment, these chemicals easily move from the plastic into our bodies.

It’s like plastic is carrying these potentially harmful substances right into us.

Microplastic perils

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, microplastics have been found in drinking water sources worldwide, including bottled and tap water.

These tiny particles, smaller than five millimeters, seriously threaten human health and the environment.

Ingesting microplastics can lead to a range of health problems, including reproductive issues, developmental problems, and even cancer.

Microplastics and marine life

Furthermore, researchers have discovered microplastics in marine life, with studies showing that fish and other seafood consumed by humans contain microplastics.

This finding means that even if we reduce our exposure to microplastics, we may still consume them indirectly through our food sources.

The impact of microplastics on the environment is also significant, as they can harm marine life and accumulate in ecosystems, leading to long-term environmental damage.

Boiling water removes microplastics.

A new study discovered this remarkable fact:

If you boil and filter tap water using everyday tools, similar to what you’d use for making tea or coffee, you can slash 90 percent of those super tiny plastic particles called nano- and microplastics.

To test this, scientists added these small plastic bits to tap water from Guangzhou (China) and boiled each sample for five minutes.

Study details

The boiling process caused the minerals in the tap water to form crystal structures of calcium carbonate, which acted like a shield, trapping the plastic particles and greatly lowering their amount.

According to Prof. Eddy Zeng, one of the researchers involved in the study, these tiny plastic particles could accumulate over time.

However, to get rid of any leftover particles that have been trapped, you can pour the water through a coffee filter.

This step helps to scrub away and remove any remaining plastic particles that might be encrusted in the crystal structures formed during the boiling process.

Limiting your microplastic exposure

Using a glass or stainless steel pot is best if you plan to boil your water to eliminate microplastics.

Healthline provides this guidance:

After boiling for around five minutes, let the water cool without stirring, as this helps the tiny plastic particles bind to the calcium and settle at the bottom of the pot. Once they’ve settled, you can filter or scoop them away.

However, it’s essential to know that boiling water won’t solve the microplastic issue completely.

Other ways to reduce your microplastic exposure

There are other sources of exposure we encounter regularly.

To reduce exposure, I try to avoid single-use plastic packaging, like bottled water, plastic utensils, and cooking products, and refrain from putting plastic containers in the dishwasher or microwave.

Regularly using these items can release plastic particles or chemicals, contributing to the problem.

My thoughts

This simple boiling-water strategy can “decontaminate” nano/microplastics (NMPs) from household tap water.

The approach has the potential to harmlessly alleviate human intake of nano/microplastics through water consumption.

Moreover, we can each improve the planet by avoiding single-use plastic packaging.

Increasing evidence indicates that plastics may gather in the body, leading to issues such as oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, problems with gut health, and potential liver issues.

I look forward to writing more about the absolute health risks of microplastics.

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