Love chewing gum? You might be putting your health at risk

120012472Microplastics are everywhere—in our food, water, and even the air we breathe. Now, research shows they’re also hiding in something millions of us chew daily: gum. A new study found that chewing gum releases hundreds to thousands of microplastics for every gram of gum. Surprisingly, the amount of microplastics released remained comparable whether the participants of the study chewed natural gums or synthetic ones. And even though the long-term effects of exposure to microplastics are not well understood, new research suggests several potential harmful effects.What is chewing gum made of?Chewing gum is made of a gum base, sweeteners, softeners, flavours, colours, and sometimes a sweet coating. It’s the gum base — made from polymers — that gives the candy its rubbery texture.Gums can be of two types. The “natural” kind, which is usually made with plant-based polymers like tree sap, and the synthetic type, which is made from a petroleum-based polymer, more commonly known as plastic.This explains why chewing gum releases microplastics into saliva, though research on its impact remains limited.“Scientists don’t know if microplastics are unsafe to us or not,” said Sanjay Mohanty, the project’s principal investigator and an engineering professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. “There are no human trials. But we know we are exposed to plastics in everyday life, and that’s what we wanted to examine here.”“Our goal is not to alarm anybody,” he added.Mohanty and his team’s research, which was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, found that about 100 microplastics were released into the saliva for each gram of chewing gum. medium nocaption119915170 medium nocaption119915187How exactly do you measure microplastics in gum?The process seems simple enough. The researchers studied ten different types of chewing gums — five natural and five synthetic.Each participant chewed several pieces of gum from each brand for four minutes and gave a saliva sample every 30 seconds. The saliva samples were then combined and the microplastics measured.In another experiment, the participants deposited saliva samples every 20 minutes.The initial assumption was that natural chewing gums would contain fewer microplastics than their synthetic counterparts but, as it turns out, both types of gum deposited similar amounts of microplastics in the saliva.“We were not surprised to find microplastics in chewing gum but we are surprised to find equal amounts in both synthetic and organic gum,” said Mohanty. “We assumed organic one should have less than that of synthetic… We are perplexed by the source of microplastics in them.How many microplastics did they find?On an average, the researchers found 100 microplastics in the saliva for every gram of chewing gum. The pieces of gum typically ranged from 2 grams to 6 grams, and some of them deposited 600 microplastics in the saliva.What’s even more interesting is the fact that the type of polymers found in the natural and synthetic gums were the same, mostly polyolefins — plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene. “I honestly never would have thought to even think about chewing gum as a source of microplastics!” Dana Hunnes, a senior clinical dietitian at UCLA Health, told Healthline. Yes, I am very surprised with this study, and not pleasantly so. When chewing gum, most people tend to swallow their saliva, so if chewing gum is releasing microplastics into saliva that people are swallowing, that’s not great.” medium nocaption112677137 medium nocaption119915257A recent paper in Nature Medicine found that the human brain contains approximately a spoonful of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs). Brain tissues were found to have 7–30 times higher amounts of MNPs than other organs such as the liver or kidney.How to reduce ingestion of microplastics?Avoid using bottled waterUse a high-quality water filter (such as one with activated carbon or reverse osmosis) at home. Opt for glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free reusable bottles instead of plastic bottles. Drink tap water if it is deemed safe in your area, as it often contains fewer microplastics than bottled water. Eat fresh and unprocessed foods Choose fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods over processed and packaged items. Store food in glass or stainless-steel containers rather than plastic ones. Avoid heating food in plastic containers, as heat releases more plastic particles. Avoid plastic utensils Use loose-leaf tea with a stainless-steel or glass infuser. Switch to bamboo, wooden, or metal cutlery and straws. Avoid takeaway coffee cups with plastic linings. Choose household items carefully Choosing natural skincare and beauty products free from microbeads. Using fragrance-free or eco-friendly detergents and soaps. Washing synthetic clothes (like polyester) in a microplastic-filtering laundry bag or using a washing machine filter.