Study Finds Tea Brewing Removes Toxic Heavy Metals From Water

Research reveals that tea leaves can adsorb contaminants like lead and cadmium, offering an unexpected public health benefit.

Northwestern University researchers found that brewing tea can remove up to 15% of lead and other heavy metals from water under typical preparation conditions.
The study highlights tea's potential to passively reduce exposure to toxic metals, though it is not a substitute for proper water filtration systems.
Cellulose-based tea bags proved most effective at adsorbing metals, outperforming cotton and nylon bags, which showed minimal impact.
Longer steeping times and finely ground tea leaves increase the effectiveness of metal adsorption, with black tea showing slightly better results due to its surface properties.
While the findings could inform public health efforts, researchers caution that tea brewing alone cannot address severe water contamination issues.