Glass bottles found to have five to 50 times as many microplastics as plastic bottles in shocking new study
Looks like the glass is half full…of plastic.
Microplastics are everywhere — in your chewing gum, your beauty products and even your favorite junk food.
Given the name, it's reasonable to assume you're more likely to find them in products containing plastic than not.
Advertisement
3 Microplastics are everywhere — in your chewing gum, your beauty products and even your favorite junk food.
SIV Stock Studio – stock.adobe.com
But a jaw-dropping new study — published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis — has discovered quite the opposite seems to be the case.
Guillaume Duflos, research director at French food safety watchdog ANSES, told AFP that his team set out to 'investigate the quantity of microplastics in different types of drinks sold in France and examine the impact different containers can have.'
Advertisement
Much to their surprise, they found that glass-bottled beverages — including lemonade, iced tea, beer and soda — had five to 50 times more microplastics than their plastic or metal counterparts.
Needless to say, the team 'expected the opposite result,' study co-author Iseline Chaib told AFP.
Researchers found an average of roughly 100 microplastic particles per liter in these glass bottles, which they pinned on the paint on their caps.
3 Glass-bottled beverages had five to 50 times more microplastics than their plastic or metal counterparts.
SKfoto – stock.adobe.com
Advertisement
'We…noticed that in the glass, the particles emerging from the samples were the same shape, color and polymer composition — so, therefore, the same plastic — as the paint on the outside of the caps that seal the glass bottles,' Chaib said.
They theorized that 'tiny scratches, invisible to the naked eye, probably due to friction between the caps when there were stored,' might subsequently 'release particles onto the surface of the caps.'
Still, some of the study's findings remain a mystery.
3 Bottles of wine contained very few microplastics, even when capped.
Gary Perkin – stock.adobe.com
Advertisement
The team found only 4.5 particles and 1.6 particles of microplastics per liter in glass and plastic bottles, respectively.
And — in more good news — bottles of wine also contained very few microplastics, even when capped.
In contrast, there were 60, 40 and 30 microplastics per liter in beer, lemonade and soft drinks, respectively.
Duflos admitted that the reason behind this inconsistency 'remains to be explained.'
While the full health impact of microplastics continues to be unclear, studies have linked them to inflammation, hormone disruption, DNA damage, respiratory illnesses, heart problems and certain cancers.
ANSES suggests a quick fix: try blowing on the caps and rinsing them with water and alcohol.
The French watchdog found this method can slash plastic contamination by 60 percent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
See photos of a Swiss glacier melting in the heat of climate change
RHONE GLACIER, Switzerland -- Drip, drip. Trickle, trickle. That's the sound of water seeping from a sunbaked and slushy Swiss glacier that geoscientists are monitoring for signs of continued retreat by the majestic masses of ice under the heat of global warming. In recent years, glaciologists like Matthias Huss of the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, known as ETHZ, and others have turned to dramatic measures to help protect glaciers like the Rhone Glacier, which feeds into the river of the same name that runs through Switzerland and France. One of those desperate steps involves using giant sheets to cover the ice like blankets to slow the melt. Switzerland is continental Europe's glacier capital, with some 1,400 that provide drinking water, irrigation for farmland in many parts of Europe including French wine country, and hydropower that generates most of the country's electricity. The number has been dwindling. The Alpine country has already lost up to 1,000 small glaciers, and the bigger ones are increasingly at risk. Huss hosted The Associated Press for a visit to the sprawling glacier this month, as he carried out his first monitoring mission as summer temperatures accelerate the thaw. Under normal conditions, glaciers can regenerate in the winter, but climate change is threatening that. 'I always say glaciers are the ambassadors of climate change because they can spread this message in a very understandable way," Huss said. "They also cause good feelings because glaciers are beautiful. We know them from our holidays.' The vast expanse of blue, gray and white ice is riddled with cracks and grooves, and Huss says his teams at the Swiss GLAMOS glacier monitoring group have spotted a new phenomenon in Switzerland: holes appearing beneath the surface that at times widen so much that the ice above collapses. Huss uses an auger to bore into the ice, sending frosty chips upward as if from a gushing fountain. It's part of a process that involves using stakes and poles to track ice loss from melting. Huss monitors melting not just at the top but also from the base of glaciers. 'Normally glaciers melt from the top because of the warm air, because of their radiation from the sun. But in recent years we realized at several sites that there is a substantive melt from the bottom,' Huss said. 'If there are some channels in the ice through which air is circulating, this can excavate big holes under the ice.' The Alps were covered with ice 20,000 years ago, but no more. It's the same story elsewhere. Experts have warned that some two-thirds of the world's glaciers are set to disappear by the end of this century Huss says only humans can help save them. 'It's difficult to save this very glacier because it could only be saved — or at least made to retreat slower — by bringing down CO2 emissions," he said. 'But everybody can contribute on their own to reduce CO2 emissions as far as possible." 'This will not help this glacier immediately, but it will help all glaciers in the long range,' he added. "This is the important thing that we should think of if we see this melting ice and this big retreat — that it's time to act now.' The concerns about Switzerland's glaciers intensified recently after the southwestern village of Blatten, tucked near the Birch Glacier, was largely destroyed by a slide of rock and glacier ice in May. The village had been evacuated ahead of the slide, which covered dozens of homes and buildings and left just a few rooftops visible. A review of data showed that the Birch Glacier was a rarity in that it has been advancing while most glaciers have been receding. And its advance had been increasing in recent years, to the point that it was flowing at about 10 meters (about 30 feet) per day shortly before the collapse — a rate Huss called 'completely unsustainable.' Huss said the landslide was triggered by rocks piling onto the glacier, though he also called Birch's advance a 'precursor." The main takeaway from the Birch Glacier collapse, Huss says, is that 'unexpected things happen.' 'If you ask me, like three weeks ago, nobody would have guessed that the whole village is going to be destroyed,' he said. "I think this is the main lesson to be learned, that we need to be prepared.' ___
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Kate Middleton was ‘fortunate' to survive cancer, insider says: ‘She was really seriously ill'
Kate Middleton's cancer battle has sent her 'to hell and back' according to well-placed insiders, who claim that she's 'fortunate' to have survived it at all. Since announcing in January that her cancer is in remission, the beloved royal has been making a gradual return to public-facing duties. Still, the Princess of Wales, 43, is 'fortunate to be even speaking of recovery,' a source told the Daily Mail. 5 Kate Middleton's cancer battle has sent her 'to hell and back' according to well-placed insiders, who claim that she's 'fortunate' to have survived it at all. BBC As the princess continues to prioritize her health, insiders claim that her recovery is 'a work in progress' — and add that her entire health battle has given her 'mental clarity' with regards to her priorities. While the mom of three underwent cancer treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital, she was initially admitted into the London Clinic for a planned abdominal surgery in January 2024. While there, a 'port' was surgically fitted to administer the chemo treatment, the outlet reports. 'I can say that, from what I understand, she is fortunate to even be speaking of recovery,' the Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English wrote. A source told the outlet, 'On some levels I actually think this is a good reminder that she was really seriously ill last year and underwent a significant period of chemo.' 5 Since announcing in January that her cancer is in remission, the beloved royal has been making a gradual return to public-facing duties. Shutterstock 'As anyone who has been through that experience will tell you, you can feel very unwell for a long time afterwards. It can take years [to recover],' the insider added. Princess Catherine had spent much of 2024 behind closed doors as she prioritized treatment and recovery. Her absence from the public eye prompted mass speculation about her whereabouts last year, all of which was silenced with news of her cancer diagnosis. Looking ahead, Middleton is rumored to attend the Wimbledon tennis championships next month before joining a 'meet and greet' for a French state visit at Windsor Castle on July 8. 5 As the princess continues to prioritize her health, insiders claim that her recovery is 'a work in progress.' Getty Images Following that, it's believed that the princess and her family will retreat to Anmer Hall, a 19th-century country house located on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. While there, the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, plan to enjoy a range of countryside activities, including cycling and sailing. In August, it's said that the Waleses will journey to Balmoral to join King Charles and Queen Camilla for their annual summer gathering. 5 The princess and her family will spend the summer months at Anmer Hall, before joining the rest of the royals at Balmoral. Shutterstock The stunning castle was a known favorite residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who kick-started the annual tradition of vacationing there during her reign. There, the royals enjoy picturesque walks in the Scottish Highlands, as well as family cookouts, horse-riding and board games. Charles was keen to continue his late mother's tradition, with Prince William's family joining in on the fun in the last two years. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Other senior members of the Firm are expected to join in on the fun, including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of York, as well as Zara and Mike Tindall. A notable absence has been the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children, who have not visited the beloved royal residence together. 5 Princess Catherine last week pulled out of attending Royal Ascot at the eleventh hour. / It comes as Princess Catherine pulled out of attending Royal Ascot at the eleventh hour, raising fresh concerns about her health as she continues to recover from cancer. The princess's last-minute withdrawal from the event suggests she is carefully managing her public appearances after announcing that her cancer was in remission in January.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
New study found microplastics in a place you wouldn't expect — but does it really matter?
If you're trying to avoid microplastics, picking a glass bottle over a plastic one would seem like a sensible step. But a new study from researchers in France uncovered counterintuitive results showing higher concentrations of microplastics in beverages that came from glass bottles compared to other materials — including plastic. The study, titled 'Microplastic contaminations in a set of beverages sold in France,' was conducted by researchers at French food safety agency ANSES and is published in the August edition of the peer-reviewed Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. In it, researchers looked at microplastic concentrations in drinks like water, cola, tea, lemonade, beer and wine in different types of containers, including plastic and glass bottles and metal cans. With the exception of wine, researchers found the most microplastic content in beverages that came out of glass bottles. So what's going on? How could there be more plastic in glass than plastic? The culprit: The cap. Though the bottles were made of glass, the caps were painted metal. Most paint is made of plastic. When scientists compared the color of the plastic particles in the liquid, it was the same color as the paint on the lid. That means bits of paint got scratched off the caps and went into the drinks. The study included close-up photos where you can see small scratches on the insides of the caps. That also explains why they found comparatively fewer particles in wine: They were traditional glass bottles capped with corks, not metal lids. The study was set up to examine the levels of microplastic content across different container materials, which is why the study phrases the highlighted results in that context ('Drinks in glass bottles more contaminated by microplastics'). But the conclusions indicate something more nuanced: There are multiple sources of microplastic contamination in what we eat and drink, and it's impossible to avoid them all, even if you're conscientious. The findings are consistent with what microplastics researchers around the world have found in many other studies, said Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist with environmental advocacy nonprofit the Environmental Working Group: 'It fits in with what we know, which is that microplastics are in a range of food and beverages.' The study only looked at a handful of brands per category, and only six samples per brand, which all came from the same batch lot. If anything, experts who reviewed the study said, the findings are an indication that bottled beverage manufacturers should be examining their materials and processes and seeing whether simple steps like pre-cleaning the caps with air or liquid could meaningfully reduce microplastic concentrations. The results don't mean that you should never drink a bottled beverage ever again, or that you need to scrutinize cap or bottle material. Microplastics are in just about everything we eat and drink, said Britta Baechler, the Director of Ocean Plastics Research for Ocean Conservancy. She co-authored a study published last year that found microplastics in every type of commonly consumed protein the researchers looked at, including seafood, chicken, steak, pork and plant-based protein. She called this study 'yet another reminder of how deeply embedded plastic is in our lives and our food system.' In the grand scheme of microplastic consumption, fussing over what a bottle or cap of an individual drink is made of won't make a huge difference. Here's what experts say you can do to reduce your exposure: Avoid heating up food in plastic. Heating plastic releases more particles into food, and faster. Nonstick coating is made of plastic, so opting to cook on stainless steel or cast iron is another smart step. Avoid storing food in or eating food off of plastic. Glass, metal and ceramic are all better picks for your plates and storage containers. Eat more whole, unprocessed food and drinks. Researchers found fewer microplastics in water than bottled lemonade, tea or cola. In Baechler's study on proteins, the ones with the fewest microplastics per gram were chicken breasts and pork chops; heavily processed products like breaded shrimp, fish sticks and chicken nuggets contained the highest concentrations. Drink filtered or tap water from your home out of stainless or glass drinkware. Tap water has consistently been found to contain fewer microplastics than other sources, Baechler said. Broadly speaking, despite the findings of this study, microplastics experts still say glass bottles are better than plastic ones. Glass itself does not — cannot — shed microplastics into what you drink. And glass bottles are much more recyclable than plastic. Many plastic bottles, even ones that make it into your recycling bin, wind up not being recycled. 'We're finding microplastics in everything,' said Amelia Meyer, a co-leader of the Plastics Working Group at Stanford University. 'You can only do so much. You have to drink water.'
