Tuesday 25/March/2025 – 07:40 PM
A recent study revealed an anxious association between chewing gum and exposure to microblazles molecules, which may increase health risks, including the risk of cancer.
Gum may be an unexpected source of fine plastic molecules
According to the British Daily Mail newspaper, fine plastic particles are small parts of no more than five millimeters, found in the air, water, and food, and even in gum, and research indicates that these molecules may cause damage to cells and DNA, as they affect genetic activity and are associated with possible health risks.
According to the study, chewing gum leads to the release of large quantities of these molecules in saliva, which are subsequently swallowed, allowing it to infiltrate the digestive system, and it is estimated that the person who regular chewing gum may swallow the equivalent of 15 plastic credit cards annually.
The components of the gum and its role in launching plastic molecules
The gum consists of three main elements: rubber base, sweeteners, and flavors, and the study showed that the artificial and natural gum contains the same types of polymers, and the excitement of similar quantities of fine plastic particles when chewed.
The most common polymers in gum was poly olefins, which include polyethylene and polypropylene, two types of plastic used widely in consumer products.
The research team, led by Professor Sanjay Mohante from the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted two experiences on five brands of industrial gum and five other natural gum.
The results showed that each gram of gum launches an average of 100 accurate plastic particles, while some samples recorded the release of up to 600 particles per gram, and it was found that the average person chews 160 to 180 pieces of gum annually, which means swallowing about 30 thousand accurate plastic molecules annually of gum alone, without calculating the consuming quantities from other sources such as food and water.
How can the risks be reduced?
The study showed that the gum launches the highest percentage of fine plastic particles within the first two minutes of chewing, as the outer layer begins to decompose, and after eight minutes, about 94% of the total measured molecules were launched.
To reduce exposure to these molecules, researchers suggest chewing one piece of gum for a longer period instead of replacing them with a new piece every few minutes.
