Unexpected danger of chewing gum revealed

Researchers are sounding the alarm: microplastics are being found everywhere on our planet. Although direct evidence of harm to the human body does not yet exist, as emphasized by Sanjay Mohanty from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), who led a new study that is currently undergoing the scientific peer review process.

As part of the experiment, Lisa Low, a UCLA graduate student, carefully chewed seven pieces of each of ten popular chewing gum brands. Subsequent chemical analysis of her saliva showed alarming results: just one gram of chewing gum releases an average of 100 fragments of microplastic, and some brands - more than 600 microparticles. A standard piece of gum weighs approximately 1.5 grams.

According to scientists' calculations, the average consumer who uses about 180 pieces of chewing gum throughout the year may unintentionally swallow approximately 30 thousand microplastic particles from this source alone.