Do Tea Bags Release Microplastics?
Plastic ones do, according to two university studies. McGill University researchers reported in 2019 that a single plastic teabag steeped at brewing temperature released about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the water, levels thousands of times higher than previously reported in other foods.
A 2024 study from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona compared bag materials. Polypropylene bags released about 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, cellulose bags about 135 million and nylon-6 bags about 8.18 million. In lab tests on human intestinal cells, mucus-producing cells took up the most particles, some of which reached the cell nucleus.
What that means for health is not settled. McGill says the possible health effects of ingesting these particles are currently unknown, and the FDA says current evidence does not demonstrate that the levels of microplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- StudyMcGill University researchers found that a single plastic teabag at brewing temperature released about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the water, thousands of times more than previously reported in other foods. McGill University ↗
- StudyThe McGill researchers bought four commercial teas in plastic teabags, removed the tea leaves, and heated the empty bags in water to simulate brewing. McGill University ↗
- StudyMcGill says the possible health effects of ingesting these particles are currently unknown and that further investigation is needed. McGill University ↗
- StudyA 2024 Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona study found polypropylene tea bags released about 1.2 billion particles per milliliter when brewing, cellulose bags about 135 million, and nylon-6 bags about 8.18 million. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona ↗
- StudyIn the Barcelona study’s lab experiments, mucus-producing human intestinal cells had the highest uptake of the particles, with some entering the cell nucleus. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA says studies have reported microplastics in foods including tea, and that current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that the levels detected in foods pose a risk to human health. US FDA ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.