Microplastic release from plastic tea bags versus bulk tea and migration of bisphenol A and plasticizer esters

Polymeric tea bags act as dynamic vectors for micro-particle shedding and chemical leaching, raising public health concerns as global tea consumption rises. This study quantified microplastics (MPs), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalate esters (PAEs) in infusions prepared from 14 bagged and 14 bulk tea brands, and modeled the associated health risks. Following a controlled brewing simulation (95 °C, 3 min), MPs were characterized by ATR-FTIR and chemical leaching was quantified by GC-MS/MS. Plastic tea bags released substantially more MPs (555–2498 particles/cup) than bulk tea (0.3–2.4 MP/cup). Debris exceeding 100 µm from tea bags consisted exclusively of polyamide (PA) fibers, consistent with hydrolytic degradation of the bag material, whereas bulk tea showed a heterogeneous polymer profile (PE, PP, PET, and PA) dominated by fragments (70–80%), reflecting background environmental and industrial contamination. Although cumulative Hazard Index values remained below the risk threshold (HI <1), BPA intake from bagged tea reached 21.7% of the EFSA tolerable daily intake. These findings indicate that polymeric tea bags act as active vectors for particulate and chemical pollutants, supporting a shift toward bulk tea consumption and stricter regulatory oversight of food-contact packaging materials.