Microplasty now detected in the gum – as particles associated with 3 chronic diseases

Not to explode your bubble, but your gum can be filled with plastic.

A new study found that chewing a single part releases hundreds – if not thousands – of microplastics in your saliva, which you may most likely swallow.

This is a real stroke, especially since a growing organ of the research suggests that these small particles can present one three for our health, potentially even increasing the risk of three chronic, harmful diseases.

Microplasty – small plastic fragments ranging from 1 nanometer to 5 millimeters in size – released while larger plastic pieces break down over time.

Research has shown that people consume a stunning amount of plastic every week through the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe.

These dangerous points have been discovered throughout the body, including in the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, blood, testicles and breast milk. One study even found that the average brain contains a microplastic spoon.

Something to chew

The new study, led by UCLA scholars, aimed to discover another way that these harmful particles would make their way to our bodies: through the gum.

The range is made of three main ingredients: a rubber, sweetening and flavoring base. Natural tooth fingers use plant -based materials such as Chicle or SAP tree for the base, while synthetic gums rely on oil -based rubber.

“Our initial hypothesis was that synthetic gums would have much more microplastics because the base is a type of plastic,” said Lisa Lowe, a doctoral student at UCLA.

To discover, Lowe chewed seven pieces each of the five brands of synthetic gum and five brands of natural gum. The researchers then measured the number of microplastics in each sample of its saliva.

The results were wonderful: on average 100 microplastics were released from gram gum, with some individual parts pouring up to 600.

Given that a typical gum piece weighs between 2 and 6 grams, researchers said that a larger part can release up to 3,000 plastic particles.

“In addition, both synthetic and natural gums had similar amounts of microplastics released when we chewed them,” Lowe said.

The research team estimated that if the average person chews between 160 and 180 small gum sticks per year, they can consume about 30,000 microplastics per year.

“Our goal is not to alert anyone,” said Sanjay Mohanty, the main project investigator and an engineering professor at UCLA. “Scientists do not know whether the microplasty is not uncertain about us or not.”

An invisible threat

Although no human test has nailed it, animal studies and human cell research suggest that microplastics can be harmful to our bodies, potentially harmful cells, causing inflammation, disrupting organ function and reducing immune responses.

New research also shows a worrying link: the highest exposure to microplastics is associated with a greater spread of hypertension, diabetes and stroke.

A second study to present next week possible link between microplastic levels in waters and health issues in coastal communities and US lakes between 2015 and 2019.

“When we include 154 different socio -economic and environmental characteristics in our analysis, we did not expect the microplastics to be ranked in Top 10 for predicting chronic non -adhesive prevalence of scare,” said Rahul Ponnana, a medical record of Ohio and the lead author of the study.

In particular, cancer was not constantly linked to microplastic pollution, a startling twist that opposes previous studies that suggest that exposure could be associated with lung, liver, breast and prostate cancers.

Researchers emphasized that while there is a link between microplastics and high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke, it does not prove to cause.

They said more research is needed to find out whether microplastics are directly causing these health issues or whether they are simply receiving another environmental or lifting factor that contributes to the disease.

How to protect

In the study of UCLA gum, most of the microplastics were released within the first two minutes of chewing. So if you want to reduce your possible exposure to gum microplastics, Lowe suggests to chew a piece for a longer time instead of displaying a new one.

Mohanty also called on people to “be aware” when they are chewing.

“The plastic released on the saliva is a small piece of plastic in the gum,” he explained, adding that the unjustly discarded gum creates another layer of pollution.

Ponnana echoes these feelings.

“The environment plays a very important role in our health,” he said. “As a result, taking care of our environment means taking care of ours.”

Although the avoidance of microplastics may be almost impossible, experts say there are other steps you can take to limit your exposure.

Start by dipping your plastic water bottle, boiled and filtering tap water, avoiding plastic cutting boards and never with microwave plastic food containers. If you are a tea drink, experts recommend choosing tea in paper bags or loose leaves than in plastic bags.