Chewing Gum Releases Microplastics Into Mouth – Researchers

Scientists have discovered that chewing gum unleashes hundreds of minuscule plastic particles straight into the mouths of those who enjoy it, sparking fresh worries about plastic consumption and ecological contamination.

The research, unveiled at a gathering of the American Chemical Society in San Diego, underscores yet another pathway through which microplastics—small plastic pieces already detected in the atmosphere, waterways, and even human tissues—infiltrate the body.

“I don’t want to alarm people,” stated Sanjay Mohanty, the principal investigator from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), during a discussion with AFP. Still, he pointed out that although no concrete proof exists showing microplastics damage human health, their pervasive existence is troubling.

In the experiment, Lisa Lowe, a doctoral candidate at UCLA, chewed seven pieces of each of 10 distinct gum brands. Chemical examination of her saliva showed that one gram of gum discharged an average of 100 microplastic fragments, with certain brands releasing more than 600. Considering a typical gum stick weighs about 1.5 grams, the team calculated that people chewing around 180 pieces annually might be swallowing roughly 30,000 microplastics.

Although this number is notably less than the quantity ingested from other sources—like bottled water, which studies have shown contains an average of 240,000 microplastics per litre—the results illuminate a previously overlooked avenue of plastic exposure.

The investigation explored two gum varieties: synthetic gum, which employs petroleum-derived polymers to achieve its elastic consistency, and natural gum, which incorporates plant-derived polymers like tree sap.

“It was surprising that we found microplastics were abundant in both,” Lowe remarked, noting that the majority of the plastic emerged within the initial eight minutes of chewing.

Despite its plastic composition, chewing gum packaging omits polymers from its ingredient list, opting instead for ambiguous phrases such as “gum-based.”

“Nobody will tell you the ingredients,” Mohanty commented.

David Jones, a scientist at the UK’s University of Portsmouth uninvolved in the research, argued that producers ought to be mandated to offer more transparent labeling.

“People tend to freak out a little bit when told that the building blocks of chewing gum are similar to what is found in car tyres, plastic bags, and bottles,” he explained.

Lowe also emphasized the ecological consequences, especially when chewed gum is tossed onto pavements, where it adds to plastic pollution.

The research has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal but remains unpublished. In the meantime, Wrigley, the globe’s top chewing gum producer, did not reply to AFP’s inquiry for a statement.

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