Microplastic Health Effects: Outside the office, people often find themselves drinking tea from fancy plastic cups. Let us tell you how expensive this tea can be for you.

tea in a plastic cup

Is Drinking Tea in Plastic Cups Safe? Hot tea from a cart outside the office, delivered directly to your desk in a plastic bag or thin plastic cup, may be a comforting daily habit, but it can also be a health hazard. Experts say that when hot tea is served in low-quality plastic, the chemicals present in it can leach into the drink.

According to Dr. Dharmendra Kumar, an internal medicine and endocrinology expert at NMCH Hospital, Patna, tea can be heated above 60 degrees Celsius to release harmful compounds like phthalates, bisphenol A, and styrene. These substances affect the body's hormonal system and can increase the risk of serious illnesses in the long run.

Doctors say these chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can disrupt the balance of hormones like estrogen, testosterone, insulin, and thyroid. If a person drinks such tea two to four times a day, even small amounts of continuous exposure can have a cumulative effect on the body. This can result in hormonal imbalances, infertility, weight gain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Some experts even suspect an increased risk of breast, prostate, and thyroid cancer.

What does research say?

Experts say that while large-scale human studies are limited, lab and animal studies indicate that these chemicals may damage DNA by increasing oxidative stress, which can lead to cancer. Recent research also raises concerns. Some studies have found that hot drinks served in disposable cups may contain thousands of microplastic particles. Scientists at IIT Kharagpur estimate that prolonged use of single-use cups can lead to grams of plastic accumulation in a person's body. Meanwhile, research conducted abroad has also found traces of microplastics in human brain tissue.

What are the rules in the country?

According to a report in Business Standard, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has permitted the use of food-grade plastic, but cheaper, recycled plastic is still widely used at the grassroots level. Therefore, experts recommend always consuming hot tea in glass, steel, or ceramic vessels. Kulhars or clay cups are also considered comparatively safer options.