Tag: Plastic pollution

According to a 2025 UCLA study, chewing a single gram of gum can release an average of 100 microplastics into your saliva. This startling finding has brought renewed attention to a long-standing question: does gum base have microplastics, and what are the real implications for our health and the environment?

With over 1.3 billion plastic bottles used daily worldwide, the convenience of bottled water is undeniable. But is bottled water still good, or does it come at a surprising cost to your health and the environment?

According to one study, microplastics were found in 93% of bottled water samples tested, underscoring the importance of understanding what’s in your bottle. This raises a critical question for many health-conscious consumers: what bottled water is all natural? This guide delves into the specifics of genuinely natural bottled water, helping you make an informed and healthier choice.

An estimated 5 grams of microplastics—the equivalent weight of a credit card—could be ingested by the average person every week. This alarming statistic highlights the pervasive nature of microplastics in our food and water systems, raising serious questions about our daily diet and long-term health.

According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, bottled water has surpassed soda to become the number one packaged beverage in the United States, yet the primary reasons for this choice are often misunderstood. Unpacking the consumer motivations reveals a complex interplay of practicality, perception, and marketing.

In a recent pilot study by UCLA engineers, it was found that chewing a single gram of gum can release an average of 100 microplastic particles into saliva. This revelation exposes a long-hidden truth about the composition of many conventional gums and challenges consumers to reconsider their choice of chewing products.

Microplastics have been found in almost every part of the human body, including the placenta, heart, and blood. This raises a critical question: are there any nutrients in plastic? The unequivocal answer is no; plastic contains no nutritional value, and ingesting it poses significant health risks rather than benefits.

According to a 2024 study, a single liter of bottled water contains approximately 240,000 micro- and nanoplastics, far exceeding previous estimates. This revelation is just one of many reasons consumers are re-evaluating their reliance on mineral bottled water for hydration.

Despite the perception of purity, a 2024 study found nearly a quarter million invisible nanoplastic particles in a typical liter of bottled water, a level 10 to 100 times higher than previously estimated. This raises the critical question: can we drink bottled water daily without health consequences, and are there better options available?

Estimates suggest adults may ingest tens of thousands of microplastic particles each year through food, water, and air. This pervasive exposure has sparked a critical question: can simple dietary changes, like increasing fiber intake, help the body remove these tiny plastic invaders? While not a miracle cure, emerging science indicates a promising link between dietary fiber and the body's ability to excrete microplastics, primarily by trapping them in the digestive tract.