Microplastics and nanoplastics in tea: Sources, characteristics and potential impacts

Recent scientific studies have raised concerns about the presence and potential impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in tea-based drinks. This review critically examines publications relating to MNPs in tea, with focus on the type of sample involved, methods and techniques employed to isolate and identify MNPs, and the main qualitative and quantitative findings. Sources of MNPs in tea include production water, plastic packaging and contaminated tea leaves but the most important source is teabags when steeped in boiling water. Here, more than 10