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4w ago

Chewing Gum Found to Release Thousands of Microplastic Particles During Chewing

UCLA researchers reveal that both synthetic and natural gums emit significant microplastics, raising questions about health impacts and environmental pollution.

© Left image: Freepik. Right image: Dantor (talk) 20:55, 18 November 2013 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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A woman about to chew gum.
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Overview

  • A UCLA study presented at the American Chemical Society’s Spring 2025 meeting found that chewing gum releases hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles into saliva per piece.
  • Both synthetic and natural gums were shown to release similar amounts of microplastics, challenging assumptions about the safety of natural gum options.
  • Most microplastics are shed within the first two minutes of chewing, with 94% released by eight minutes, according to the study's tests.
  • Researchers estimate that chewing 160-180 pieces of gum annually could expose individuals to approximately 30,000 microplastics.
  • While the health effects of microplastics from gum remain uncertain, the study highlights the environmental impact of discarded gum and calls for proper disposal practices.