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Glass bottles are often seen as safer than plastic. People believe plastic bottles release more microplastics. But is it really true?
A recent French study reveals that glass bottles may have up to 50 times more microplastics than plastic bottles.
PhD student Izlin Shaib published this research in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis by France’s food safety agency ANSES.
Soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade and beer in glass bottles were found to have up to 100 microplastic particles per litre.
The main source of microplastics isn’t the glass but the painted metal lids, which shed tiny plastic particles into the drink.
Glass doesn’t release microplastics. The problem arises from the plastic-based paint coating on the metal caps, not the bottle.
Glass bottles sealed with natural cork had significantly fewer microplastics, proving that the lid type matters more than the bottle.
Plastic bottles shed microplastics from both bottle and cap. But glass bottles have extra load due to painted metal caps flaking off.
Glass isn’t always safer. Painted metal caps are a major microplastic source. Choosing cork or cap-free bottles can reduce exposure to microplastics.
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