New research from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom (UK) has found hot coffee and tea contain the highest levels of microplastics in a range of everyday drinks – with microplastics detected in all common beverages tested.
The study, led by Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah, looked at 155 hot and cold common beverages sold on the UK. The beverages were tested in the lab to quantify synthetic microplastics, while a public online survey was used to assess the average daily consumption of these drinks.
Of all beverages tested, hot tea was found to harbour the highest concentration of invisible microplastics (60 particles per litre), with hot coffee not far behind (43 particles per litre).
Chilled versions of the drinks were found to have lower levels of microplastics, with iced tea about 31 particles per litre and iced coffee about 37 particles per litre. The research team said this was down to temperature enhancing the leaching process of microplastics from packaging material to the beverage.
Soft drinks exhibited the lowest concentration of microplastics, with an average of around 17 particles per litre.
The authors reported that synthetic plastic packaging materials, such as those often used to line takeaway hot drinks cups, contributed substantially to the levels of microplastics in the beverages tested.
“These findings underscore the potential risk associated with microplastic contamination in daily beverages,” said the authors.
“Continued exposure to microplastics through commonly consumed beverages may contribute substantially to daily intakes of microplastics, leading to potential adverse implications for human health.”
Read the full study here.
