Chewing gum releases thousands of microplastic particles directly into your mouth with every piece you chew.
A pilot study from UCLA researchers, presented at the American Chemical Society’s Spring 2025 meeting, has identified chewing gum as a surprisingly significant and previously overlooked source of daily microplastic ingestion.
The researchers examined both traditional synthetic gums, which contain polymers such as polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, and polystyrene, as well as brands marketed as “natural” that use chicle or other plant-based bases. By simulating realistic chewing conditions, they measured how many particles are released into saliva during typical use.
The results showed that a single piece of gum can shed anywhere from hundreds to more than 3,000 microplastic fragments over 10 to 30 minutes of chewing. The primary mechanism is mechanical abrasion from teeth combined with friction from saliva, which dislodges tiny particles directly from the gum base.
Surprisingly, “natural” gums performed no better than synthetic versions and, in some cases, released even higher numbers of fragments. Most of the particles fell within the microplastic size range of less than 5 millimeters, making them small enough to be easily swallowed.
Once ingested, these particles largely resist breakdown by digestive enzymes and pass through the gastrointestinal tract as persistent pollutants. Although the long-term health consequences of chronic low-level microplastic exposure are still under investigation—with emerging concerns about potential links to inflammation, gut microbiome changes, and leaching of chemicals—this represents a meaningful everyday contribution to personal plastic intake, especially for regular gum chewers.
Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Mohanty pointed out a practical way to reduce exposure: chewing a single piece for a longer time rather than frequently replacing it with a fresh one, since particle release tends to be highest in the early minutes and then decreases. The study underscores the need for greater transparency in labeling the materials used in everyday consumer products like chewing gum.
As microplastics continue to appear in unexpected places—from drinking water to seafood—this discovery adds chewing gum to the expanding list of common items quietly adding to our daily plastic burden.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
A pilot study from UCLA researchers, presented at the American Chemical Society’s Spring 2025 meeting, has identified chewing gum as a surprisingly significant and previously overlooked source of daily microplastic ingestion.
The researchers examined both traditional synthetic gums, which contain polymers such as polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, and polystyrene, as well as brands marketed as “natural” that use chicle or other plant-based bases. By simulating realistic chewing conditions, they measured how many particles are released into saliva during typical use.
The results showed that a single piece of gum can shed anywhere from hundreds to more than 3,000 microplastic fragments over 10 to 30 minutes of chewing. The primary mechanism is mechanical abrasion from teeth combined with friction from saliva, which dislodges tiny particles directly from the gum base.
Surprisingly, “natural” gums performed no better than synthetic versions and, in some cases, released even higher numbers of fragments. Most of the particles fell within the microplastic size range of less than 5 millimeters, making them small enough to be easily swallowed.
Once ingested, these particles largely resist breakdown by digestive enzymes and pass through the gastrointestinal tract as persistent pollutants. Although the long-term health consequences of chronic low-level microplastic exposure are still under investigation—with emerging concerns about potential links to inflammation, gut microbiome changes, and leaching of chemicals—this represents a meaningful everyday contribution to personal plastic intake, especially for regular gum chewers.
Lead researcher Professor Sanjay Mohanty pointed out a practical way to reduce exposure: chewing a single piece for a longer time rather than frequently replacing it with a fresh one, since particle release tends to be highest in the early minutes and then decreases. The study underscores the need for greater transparency in labeling the materials used in everyday consumer products like chewing gum.
As microplastics continue to appear in unexpected places—from drinking water to seafood—this discovery adds chewing gum to the expanding list of common items quietly adding to our daily plastic burden.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🤬2🤯1
Transgender porn star arrested for allegedly stabbing man who wouldn't have sex - because of religion
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🌚15
US tech loan market weakness is becoming more apparent:
US tech loan prices have declined -5% year-to-date, to 90 cents, the steepest drop since the 2022 bear market.
European tech loans have fallen -5%, to 89 cents, the lowest in at least 2 years.
The broader US leveraged loan index has declined -2%, to 95 cents, the lowest since the April 2025 selloff.
This marks the largest two-month decline since 2022, when rising US interest rates triggered recession fears.
Furthermore, the number of new US loan offerings has dropped to the lowest since May.
The decline has been primarily driven by software and services companies, amid growing concerns that AI tools will replace their products.
The US credit market is shifting.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
US tech loan prices have declined -5% year-to-date, to 90 cents, the steepest drop since the 2022 bear market.
European tech loans have fallen -5%, to 89 cents, the lowest in at least 2 years.
The broader US leveraged loan index has declined -2%, to 95 cents, the lowest since the April 2025 selloff.
This marks the largest two-month decline since 2022, when rising US interest rates triggered recession fears.
Furthermore, the number of new US loan offerings has dropped to the lowest since May.
The decline has been primarily driven by software and services companies, amid growing concerns that AI tools will replace their products.
The US credit market is shifting.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Footage reportedly from Bahrain appears to show a U.S. HIMARS system launching tactical missiles toward Iran, likely the newer PrSM missiles (two launches from one vehicle)
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
⚡4
Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
JAPAN IS AMAZING:
A minister is 5 minutes late and has to take responsibility for her failure!
Kimi Onoda, Minister of Economic Security, arrived five minutes late to a meeting with the Prime Minister and immediately issued a public apology in a press briefing to the nation!
“Kimi explained that a traffic accident caused the delay and she was very sorry.”
Man, we need politicians like this too.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
A minister is 5 minutes late and has to take responsibility for her failure!
Kimi Onoda, Minister of Economic Security, arrived five minutes late to a meeting with the Prime Minister and immediately issued a public apology in a press briefing to the nation!
“Kimi explained that a traffic accident caused the delay and she was very sorry.”
Man, we need politicians like this too.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
💯10
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei and widely seen as a potential successor, has reportedly been injured but is believed to still be alive
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
👏5
Several drones launched from Houthi controlled northern Yemen reportedly targeted the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi air defenses intercepted all of them over the Empty Quarter desert before they reached the facility.
The Shaybah field is one of Saudi Arabia’s major oil production sites deep in the Rub’ al Khali.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
Saudi air defenses intercepted all of them over the Empty Quarter desert before they reached the facility.
The Shaybah field is one of Saudi Arabia’s major oil production sites deep in the Rub’ al Khali.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
😱2
Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
BREAKING: Javier Milei's newly formed ICE unit has begun cleansing Argentina of thousands of criminals & terrorists
Every Western country needs ICE!
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
Every Western country needs ICE!
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🫡5👏3
IRANIANS REPORTEDLY LEAVING LEBANON
More than 150 Iranian nationals, including diplomats and their families, reportedly left Lebanon on Saturday, according to a Lebanese security source.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
More than 150 Iranian nationals, including diplomats and their families, reportedly left Lebanon on Saturday, according to a Lebanese security source.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
⚡2😁2
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
BREAKING: DUBAI MARINA IS IN COMPLETE CHAOS RIGHT NOW AFTER A DRONE HIT THE 23 MARINA TOWER
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
⚡3👀2
One thing that Americans have to come to terms with which was largely hidden before the internet age, is how much indians hate Americans and White people in general.
The rich indian immigrant family that came here in the 70s who you like and are nice people are not representative of the people coming here now. And are definitely not representative of the people in india.
Do not underestimate the resentment that has been building towards Whites in india since the British left.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
The rich indian immigrant family that came here in the 70s who you like and are nice people are not representative of the people coming here now. And are definitely not representative of the people in india.
Do not underestimate the resentment that has been building towards Whites in india since the British left.
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
💯8
It is remarkable while Iran is bragging about their use of cluster munitions over cities (luckily being intercepted by U.S. and Israeli technology), CNN writes a hit piece on the U.S. for hitting only military targets (they were close to civilians)
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
😁7🌚2
The circle... the circle represents the Self. The totality of the psyche. And they just have them. On a shelf. For $4.99. I don't think people understand how profound that is
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
🫡4😁3
Meta glasses users are being warned that private footage from their glasses may be viewed by other people
Reports says recordings are sent to reviewers in Kenya to classify AI content, with workers claiming they sometimes see people undressing or using the toilet
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
Reports says recordings are sent to reviewers in Kenya to classify AI content, with workers claiming they sometimes see people undressing or using the toilet
🄳🄾🄾🄼🄿🤖🅂🅃🄸🄽🄶
😨4😁3