Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Researchers have found that chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic particles directly into the mouths of consumers, raising new concerns about plastic ingestion and environmental pollution.
The study, presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in
San Diego, highlights yet another way microplastics—tiny plastic fragments
already found in the air, water, and even human organs—enter the body.
"I don’t want to alarm people," said lead researcher Sanjay
Mohanty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in an interview
with AFP. However, he noted that while there is no direct evidence proving
microplastics harm human health, their widespread presence is concerning.
For the study, Lisa Lowe, a PhD student at UCLA, chewed seven pieces
each of 10 different gum brands. Chemical analysis of her saliva revealed that
a single gram of gum released an average of 100 microplastic fragments, with
some shedding over 600. Given that a standard stick of gum weighs around 1.5
grams, researchers estimate that individuals who chew around 180 pieces per
year could be ingesting approximately 30,000 microplastics.
While this figure is significantly lower than the amount consumed from
other sources—such as bottled water, which has been found to contain an average
of 240,000 microplastics per litre—the findings shed light on an underexplored
route of plastic exposure.
The research focused on two types of gum: synthetic gum, which uses
petroleum-based polymers for its chewy texture, and natural gum, which contains
plant-based polymers such as tree sap.
“It was surprising that we found microplastics were abundant in both,”
Lowe said, adding that most of the plastic was released within the first eight
minutes of chewing.
Despite its plastic content, chewing gum packaging does not list
polymers among its ingredients, instead using vague terms like “gum-based.”
“Nobody will tell you the ingredients,” Mohanty said.
David Jones, a researcher at the UK’s University of Portsmouth who was
not involved in the study, said manufacturers should be required to provide
clearer labelling.
“People tend to freak out a little bit when told that the building
blocks of chewing gum are similar to what is found in car tyres, plastic bags,
and bottles,” he said.
Lowe also highlighted the environmental impact, particularly when chewed
gum is discarded onto streets, where it contributes to plastic pollution.
The study has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal but has not yet
been published. Meanwhile, the world’s largest chewing gum manufacturer,
Wrigley, did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.
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