30/11/2025
😬 Chewing gum might be adding 3,000 microplastic particles to your mouth.
And even "natural" gum isn’t safe.
Chewing gum, long considered a harmless habit, may be a hidden source of microplastic exposure.
A pilot study presented at the American Chemical Society’s Spring 2025 meeting found that both synthetic and natural gums can release hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles into saliva during chewing. Researchers from UCLA discovered that a single piece of gum could shed up to 3,000 particles—mostly polyethylene and polystyrene—dislodged not by digestion but by the repetitive mechanical action of chewing. Surprisingly, natural gums offered no advantage over synthetic brands, with both releasing similar amounts of microplastics.
Led by environmental engineer Professor Sanjay Mohanty, the research adds chewing gum to the growing list of everyday items contributing to microplastic consumption. While scientists are still investigating the long-term health effects of ingesting these tiny plastic fragments, Mohanty advises reducing exposure where possible—such as chewing each piece longer instead of frequently switching to new ones. As microplastics continue to show up in everything from bottled water to household dust, this discovery serves as a reminder that even small, routine habits may have unseen consequences.
Source: Mohanty, S., et al. (2025). Chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva. American Chemical Society Spring 2025 Meeting
