Study Finds Chewing Gum Releases Hundreds of Microplastics in Your Mouth

Chewing gum releases hundreds of plastic fragments into the mouth, researchers found, adding to concerns about microplastic exposure.

A study analyzed saliva after chewing various gum brands, revealing each gram released around 100 microplastic fragments—some over 600. Frequent chewers could ingest up to 30,000 microplastics annually.

However, lead researcher Sanjay Mohanty emphasized that chewing gum is a minor source compared to bottled water, which contains around 240,000 microplastics per liter.

Synthetic and Natural Gum Both Contain Microplastics

Most supermarket gum, known as synthetic gum, contains petroleum-based polymers to create its chewy texture. However, packaging does not explicitly list plastics as ingredients, instead labeling them as “gum-based.”

“Nobody will tell you the exact ingredients,” Mohanty said.

The researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five natural gum brands, which use plant-based polymers like tree sap. Surprisingly, microplastics were abundant in both types, Lowe told AFP.

David Jones, a researcher at the UK’s University of Portsmouth who was not involved in the study, found it surprising that certain plastics not typically found in gum appeared in the samples. He suggested they might have come from contamination in the lab. However, he agreed that the study’s overall findings were expected.

“People tend to be shocked when they learn that chewing gum contains the same materials found in car tires, plastic bags, and bottles,” Jones said.

Minimal Health Risks, But Environmental Concerns Remain

Oliver Jones, a chemistry professor at RMIT University in Australia, reassured that swallowing a small amount of microplastics is unlikely to cause harm, as they would likely pass through the body without impact. “I don’t think you have to stop chewing gum just yet,” he said.

Lowe, however, pointed to another issue—plastic pollution. Discarded gum, especially when spat onto sidewalks, contributes to environmental waste.

Meanwhile, the National Confectioners Association, which represents chewing gum manufacturers in the U.S., downplayed concerns, stating that “there is no cause for alarm” and that gum has been safely consumed for over a century. The organization also emphasized that all ingredients are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Read Original Article: Science Alert

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