Download This PaperPouring Hot Water Through Drip Bag Releases Thousands of Microplastics into Coffee
36 Pages Posted: 23 Apr 2022
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) were detected in the environment and food chain which have become growing concern. Although consumers reduced the use of disposable plastics, some businesses are still producing new food plastic packaging to replace previous packaging materials such as coffee bags. In this study, drip bag coffee of 8 different commercial brands was collected to pouring hot water for different times. Our results showed that a single plastic coffee bags steeped at brewing temperature (95°C) could at most releases approximately 12 thousand of MPs particles in just five minutes into a cup of coffee. In addition, four polymer types including polyethene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET) and Rayon were confirmed in the released MPs by Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy. Different brands of drip coffee bags could be classified according to the composition of the MPs. Pouring hot water through the coffee drip bag every day could have potential health risks.
Keywords: microplastics, Drip coffee bags, Intake, Human health
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