Gum can leave thousands of germs in your mouth

Microplastic was found in air, water and daily items to produce tea bags. Now, new research shows that small plastic particles are hidden in another product: chewing gum.

The work presented at the Spring Meeting of the American Chemical Association (ACS) last week found that gum could release hundreds, even thousands of germs to the saliva. And the synthetic gums may think that it would contain more germs than natural varieties, while the researchers found that both species released similar amounts.

Microplastics are non -inhalation and inhaled or swallowed, which can accumulate in our blood circulation and organs when swallowed, known for flexibility, mini polymer pieces. Scientists do not understand exactly how it affects human health, but evidence draws a gloomy picture.

So, what does the latest findings mean about your favorite Spearmint Gum Package? “It would be a good idea to reduce gum consumption” Lisa Patel, MDPediatry Clinical Professor in Stanford Medicine, Health.

Here is what else you know about the work and chewing gum, what can it mean for your body.

In the light of many articles about how germs are separated from consumer products, Lisa LoweA working writer and doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles, Health That he and his team want to define other potential microplastic sources such as gum.

Researchers have decided to test 10 risual chewing gums (five natural and five synthetics) in the US (the work is not mentioned brands).

They told a group of participants to rinse their mouths with deionized water three to five times to determine the number of germs in their mouths at the beginning of the experiment.

The participants then chewed each gum species for four minutes and some for extra 20 minutes, while the researchers gathered saliva samples at various points. Then more than one step was taken, including shaking, centrifugal, filtration and digestion to isolate some samples, microplastic particles.

After examining the samples under a microscope, the researchers found that one gram of gum could release 637 germ (a typical part of a typical gum weighs). Interestingly, synthetic and natural gums published a similar amount of germs – an average of 104 and 96 per piece.

The average microplastic size was 82 micrometers and about 56% of the particles were less than 50 micrometers. However, it was difficult to identify smaller particles and smaller than 20 micrometers may have been missed.

According to the researchers, if a person chewed 160 to 180 pieces of gum per year, theoretically would receive approximately 30,000 germs a year.

The team also found that 94% of the germs were released in the first eight minutes of chewing. After this point, the amount of microplastic released decreased for 20 minutes and eventually spread. Therefore, chewing gum for a longer time does not necessarily mean that a person will receive more germs.

Polymers give gums to flexibility, commitment and chewing.

In natural gums made mainly made of plant materials, a type of polyolefins called polyolefins, which are counted up to 50% of the defined particles, are typically used in food packaging.

Synthetic gums, synthetic rubber and polyvinyl acetate, including petrochemical substances, including high levels of polymer pet and polystyrens.

Sanjay Mohanty, PHDLos Angeles, the chief researcher of the project and an engineering professor at the University of California, Health Most of the researches on germs in foods are different gum, while focusing on how the packaging of a item contains germs (consider tea holding tea and water -holding bottles) or how the production process is polluted with germs. “Food with gum is plastic,” he said.

Scientists identified germs in the body – in the lungs of people, in bloodstream, placenta, brain and intestines.

Patel, although research on microplastics is still limited, said, “Microplastics have actually started inflammation and damage of healthy cells in our body,” Patel said.

Studies show that germs can harm DNA and cause oxidative stress, metabolic disorders and organ dysfunction. When germs are accumulated in the intestine, the risk of inflammatory bowel disease increases. Similarly, microplastics in the bloodstream have been associated with a greater risk for cardiovascular disease. Patel, small plastic particles, as well as fertility, neurotoxicity and metabolic problems such as insulin resistance may lead to a decrease.

According to Lowe, we are all regularly exposed to daily germs, and other products are probably much more risky than a gum bar. Mohanty, “the amount of microplastic exposed with gum, for example, is still very small compared to tea bags,” he said.

However, it is not a bad idea to limit how much you are dealing with gum, Patel Patel said. Since the gums release the most particles in the first few minutes, it may be safer to continue chewing one piece instead of reaching a new rod.

Throw your gum properly – not in a garbage box and place – it does not pollute our land and oceans.

And try not to swallow. Research, synthetic gum is broken in about three years. On the other hand, the natural gum is disintegrated much faster and theoretically, according to researchers, if swallowed, it can release germs faster if swallowed faster.

Finally, in general, according to Patel, it is a good idea to limit the amount of plastic you use. “The less we minimize our use of plastic – the more we only continue to use the uses that we do not have really good alternatives – we will all be better,” he said.