Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) recently discovered that chewing gum releases microplastics into saliva, potentially leading to ingestion. The study, presented at the American Chemical Society Spring Meeting in San Diego, revealed that a single piece of gum could release up to 3,000 microplastic particles into the mouth.
"In our study, we found that both synthetic and natural gums had similar amounts of microplastics released when we chewed them," said Lisa Lowe, a doctoral student at UCLA, according to a report by Science Daily. The research team tested five brands each of synthetic and natural gum, all available on the US market. They asked a human participant to chew each piece, measuring the rate and amount of microplastics released into saliva.
The study found that most microplastic particles dissolved within the first two minutes of chewing, with 94 percent released within eight minutes, as reported by Maeil Business. "After more than eight minutes of chewing, the release of microplastics essentially ceased," noted the researchers. They suggested that to reduce microplastic ingestion, it is better to chew one piece of gum for a longer time rather than frequently starting new pieces.
"This research is not intended to alarm people," stated Professor Sanjay Mohanty, who led the research, emphasizing that while exposure to plastics is common in daily life, "there is no evidence of a direct link between microplastics and changes in human health."
"Scientists do not know if microplastics are dangerous to us or not. There are no human trials. But we know that we are exposed to plastics daily, and that's what we wanted to examine here," Mohanty added.
The researchers discovered that an individual who chews an average of 160 to 180 small pieces of gum per year could ingest about 30,000 microplastics. They measured the number of microplastics present in each saliva sample and found an average of 100 microplastics released per gram of gum, with some gums releasing up to 637 microplastics per gram.
Both synthetic and natural gums predominantly released four types of synthetic polymers: polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalates, polyacrylamides, and polystyrenes. These are some of the same plastics used in everyday consumer products. The average size of gum microplastics was 82.6 micrometers—about the thickness of paper or the diameter of a human hair.
The study also highlighted equipment and technical limitations. "Microplastics larger than 20 micrometers were difficult to identify," the researchers noted. This suggests that the findings may underestimate the actual number of microplastics released, as smaller particles and nanoplastics were not accounted for.
"That microplastics were released is not unexpected," commented Dr. David Jones, a teaching fellow at the University of Portsmouth in England. He added, "If we subject any type of plastic to stress, be it heat, friction, sunlight, seawater, or in this case vigorous mastication, we know that microplastics will be released from the plastic material."
The researchers emphasized the need for mindful disposal of chewing gum to prevent environmental pollution. "Be mindful about the environment and don't just throw it outside or stick it to a gum wall," Professor Mohanty advised, according to Discover Magazine.
The National Confectioners Association responded to the study by stating, "Gum is safe to enjoy as it has been for over 100 years," according to CNN. They added that food safety is the top priority for candy companies in the United States, and member companies only use ingredients permitted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.