A new study by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has found that chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces into people’s mouths. The small study analyzed seven types of chewing gum and discovered that a gram of gum released an average of 100 microplastic fragments.
The researchers tested synthetic gum and natural gum, both containing petroleum-based polymers and plant-based polymers respectively. They found that microplastics were abundant in both, with some gum pieces releasing up to 600 microplastics per gram.
If people chew around 180 pieces of gum a year, they could be ingesting roughly 30,000 microplastics. However, the researchers emphasize that this is a small amount compared to other sources of microplastic pollution.
The study’s findings have raised concerns about the potential impact on human health, but the lead researcher notes that there is no direct evidence showing that microplastics are harmful to humans. The National Confectioners Association has said that gum is safe to enjoy as it has been for over 100 years and that the ingredients were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The study’s authors have warned about the importance of proper disposal, particularly when people spit out chewing gum onto the sidewalk.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-gum-microplastics-mouth.html