Neurologists Warn That an Everyday Beverage Item May Expose You to Plastic

If you care about brain health, especially if dementia has affected someone close to you, it can be unsettling to learn that ordinary products and routines may carry hidden risks. Still, understanding how certain everyday choices can influence memory and cognition can help people make better decisions, whether or not neurodegenerative disease runs in the family.

“Brain health is shaped by two powerful forces: the genetic blueprint we inherit and lifestyle choices we make daily,” says Dr. Haralabos Zacharatos, DO, director of endovascular surgical neurology at JFK University Medical Center and an assistant professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

He notes that a person’s surroundings, financial situation and access to resources can all affect how well they can support and protect brain health.

“Our genes may shape our starting point, but our daily habits and the world around us help determine the path we take,” he says. “Everyday items—from cookware, such as Teflon pans, to the containers holding our beverages—can subtly introduce chemicals or microplastics into our bodies.”

Microplastics and nanoplastics have been drawing increasing attention because researchers have found them in food, water and human tissue, including the brain.

“They have attracted attention because researchers have reported them in food, water and human tissues, including the brain,” explains Dr. Smita Patel, DO, MS, an integrative neurology and sleep medicine physician at Endeavor Health. “Those findings raise questions about how particles enter the body, how long they remain and whether they affect health.”

Even so, experts say people can still make informed choices without overreacting. Neurologists recently pointed to one common item that may contribute to microplastic exposure, along with ways to reduce it.

This Common Item May Be a Hidden Plastic Source, Neurologists Say

Neurologists caution that some tea bags may expose people to microplastics.

“Something as simple and comforting as a cup of tea may also be an unexpected source of microplastic exposure,” Dr. Zacharatos explains. “The materials used to package the tea deserve closer attention.”

Dr. Patel says some mesh or pyramid-shaped tea bags are made from nylon or polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET.

“Some paper bags incorporate polypropylene or another heat-sealing polymer to hold the bag together in hot water,” she says. “Plastic may be incorporated into the paper structure, rather than simply applied as glue along the edges.”

Dr. Zacharatos adds that steeping a tea bag in near-boiling water may release microplastics and nanoplastics into the drink.

An older study from McGill University, published in Environmental Science & Technology in 2019, suggested that steeping a single plastic tea bag at 95°C (203°F) could release about 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into one cup.

That research has faced criticism, and the physicians who spoke with Parade stressed that other scientific reviews question those high estimates. The amount released can also vary from bag to bag and from brew to brew.

“The amount of microplastics released into tea is variable and influenced by other factors such as brewing time, bag material and temperature,” says Dr. Peter Josef Struck, MD, a physician in headache medicine and general neurology at HonorHealth.

What Might Microplastics Mean for Brain Health?

Researchers are still studying how microplastics could affect the brain. Dr. Patel says animal research suggests that very small plastic particles may cross the brain’s protective barriers, contribute to inflammation and disrupt or damage cells.

“However, these studies do not prove that the amounts we get from everyday food and drinks harm the human brain,” she says.

A 2025 autopsy study published in Nature Medicine reported plastic particles in human brains, with higher concentrations in samples from people with dementia.

“However, measurement methods have been questioned, and the study cannot establish cause and effect,” Dr. Patel clarifies. “Dementia-related changes might themselves affect particle entry or clearance. It does not show that microplastics cause Alzheimer’s disease or connect the findings to tea drinking.”

Which Tea Bags Are the Safest Choice?

The simplest way to limit exposure is to skip the bag and still enjoy the tea.

“The best way to reduce the risk of being exposed to microplastics when you drink tea is to use loose-leaf tea in a stainless-steel infuser, glass or ceramic teapot,” Dr. Struck explains. “It can seem impossible to achieve zero microplastic exposure in today’s environment, but removing one avoidable source when possible is recommended to reduce your overall lifetime risk.”

What about tea bags labeled “paper” or “plastic free”?

“Yes, if the entire bag is made without plastic,” Dr. Patel says. “‘Paper’ alone does not tell you whether the bag contains polypropylene or another polymer for sealing or strength.”

Check the label carefully.

“Avoid tea bags made of nylon/polyamide, PET/polyester, or polypropylene (PP),” Dr. Struck advises. “Check that the entire tea bag is free of synthetic or bioplastic polymers. If in doubt, contact the manufacturer to verify.”

If you already use tea bags, there is no need to panic.

“Human bodies are remarkably resilient, equipped with sophisticated biological systems designed to remove toxins that enter our bodies,” Dr. Zacharatos emphasizes. “If you have been enjoying bagged tea for years, there is no need to stress over the cups you have already consumed. Chronic stress and worry are actually more immediately detrimental to your brain health than the tea you drank.”

Loose-leaf chamomile, anyone?

Sources:

• Dr. Haralabos Zacharatos, DO, director of endovascular surgical neurology at JFK University Medical Center and assistant professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
• Dr. Smita Patel, DO, MS, an integrative neurology and sleep medicine physician at Endeavor Health
• Dr. Peter Josef Struck, MD, a physician in headache medicine and general neurology at HonorHealth
• Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea. Environmental Science & Technology.
• Comment on “Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea.” Environmental Science & Technology.
• Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nature Medicine.
• Health impacts of microplastic and nanoplastic exposure. Nature Medicine.