Researchers have found that chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic particles directly into the mouths of consumers, raising new concerns about plastic ingestion and environmental pollution.
The study, presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego, highlights yet another way microplastics—tiny plastic fragments already found in the air, water, and even human organs—enter the body.
"I don’t want to alarm people," said lead researcher Sanjay Mohanty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in an interview with AFP. However, he noted that while there is no direct evidence proving microplastics harm human health, their widespread presence is concerning.
For the study, Lisa Lowe, a PhD student at UCLA, chewed seven pieces each of 10 different gum brands. Chemical analysis of her saliva revealed that a single gram of gum released an average of 100 microplastic fragments, with some shedding over 600. Given that a standard stick of gum weighs around 1.5 grams, researchers estimate that individuals who chew around 180 pieces per year could be ingesting approximately 30,000 microplastics.
While this figure is significantly lower than the amount consumed from other sources—such as bottled water, which has been found to contain an average of 240,000 microplastics per litre—the findings shed light on an underexplored route of plastic exposure.
The research focused on two types of gum: synthetic gum, which uses petroleum-based polymers for its chewy texture, and natural gum, which contains plant-based polymers such as tree sap.
“It was surprising that we found microplastics were abundant in both,” Lowe said, adding that most of the plastic was released within the first eight minutes of chewing.
Despite its plastic content, chewing gum packaging does not list polymers among its ingredients, instead using vague terms like “gum-based.”
“Nobody will tell you the ingredients,” Mohanty said.
David Jones, a researcher at the UK’s University of Portsmouth who was not involved in the study, said manufacturers should be required to provide clearer labelling.
“People tend to freak out a little bit when told that the building blocks of chewing gum are similar to what is found in car tyres, plastic bags, and bottles,” he said.
Lowe also highlighted the environmental impact, particularly when chewed gum is discarded onto streets, where it contributes to plastic pollution.
The study has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal but has not yet been published. Meanwhile, the world’s largest chewing gum manufacturer, Wrigley, did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.
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