• A new study by researchers in Türkiye compares the amount of plastic in brewed cups of bagged tea versus loose-leaf tea.
• Bagged tea releases 555-2,498 microparticles, while loose-leaf tea releases 0.3-2.4 particles.
• Researchers recommend drinking loose-leaf tea and more regulatory scrutiny.

For many, having a cup of tea can be a calming ritual, and a brief break from the world. But new research might add some anxiety to the cup.

A study conducted in Türkiye, recently published in the scientific journal Nature, quantifies just how much plastic is released from tea bags. Researchers measured microplastics (MPs), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalate esters (PAEs) in 14 tea bag brands, and compared them with 14 bulk teas.