Shocking truth about chewing gum revealed
The dangers of chewing gum are revealed (photo: depositphotos.com)
You’d never have guessed it, but ordinary chewing gum can be a hidden source of harmful microplastics that you swallow with every chew. Ukrainian nutritionist Yuriy Shvets reports based on the recent studies that shed light on this fact.
What has been discovered about chewing gum?
The results of a recently published study caused a real stir in the scientific community and made many people reconsider the potential health risks associated with this seemingly harmless habit.
A research team led by American scientists decided, for the first time, to quantitatively assess the amount of microplastics released during the chewing of different types of gum. To do this, they analyzed ten popular brands of chewing gum – five based on synthetic ingredients and five marketed as natural. Volunteers participated in a pilot experiment, chewing selected types of gum for varying lengths of time – from two to twenty minutes – simulating the normal process of consuming this product.
Throughout the experiment, scientists carefully collected saliva samples from the participants. These samples were later subjected to detailed analysis using advanced scientific methods, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and a specially developed method for quantifying microplastics using an ordinary smartphone. Thanks to these innovative approaches, the researchers were able not only to detect the presence of microplastic particles in the saliva but also to accurately determine their quantity and composition.
The results of the study surprised even the scientists themselves. The analysis showed that each gram of chewing gum can release up to 637 million microscopic plastic particles! The highest amount of microplastic – a staggering 94% of the total – was released during the first eight minutes of chewing. This means that within just a few minutes of enjoying your favorite gum, you could be swallowing hundreds of millions of tiny plastic fragments.
What is especially interesting is that the study did not reveal any significant difference between synthetic chewing gums and those marketed as “natural” or plant-based. Both types released approximately the same amount of microplastic (the difference was not statistically significant, P > 0.8). Further analysis of the composition of the micro-particles found in the saliva showed the presence of four main plastic polymers, with the most frequent being polyolefins – a large group of synthetic polymers that include polyethylene and polypropylene, which are widely used in the production of various plastic products.
The authors of this groundbreaking study emphasize the importance of the data obtained, stating that chewing gum is a direct pathway for microplastics to enter the human body, potentially posing a significant long-term health risk.
However, the researchers themselves call for caution and emphasize that their aim was not to scare the public. They openly admit that, as of now, science does not yet know exactly how dangerous the ingestion of microplastics is for the human body. No large-scale or long-term human studies have been conducted to date.
What is the danger of microplastics?
Scientists remind us that in today’s world, we are constantly exposed to microplastics, which are present in the air, water, soil, and even in food products. Their study was aimed at obtaining specific quantitative data on yet another potential source of microplastic intake – chewing gum. The figures obtained represent an important step toward understanding the overall level of our "plastic" burden.
In addition to the potential risk posed by microplastics, the study’s authors also reminded readers of another lesser-known aspect of chewing gum consumption. They noted that chewing gum containing the sugar substitute xylitol can worsen the symptoms of unpleasant gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and bloating in some people.
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