Glass bottles found to contain more microplastics than plastic bottles (phys.org)

submitted 1 month ago by NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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The researchers found an average of around 100 microplastic particles per liter in glass bottles of soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea and beer. That was five to 50 times higher than the rate detected in plastic bottles or metal cans.

"We expected the opposite result," Ph.D. student Iseline Chaib, who conducted the research, told AFP.

"We then noticed that in the glass, the particles emerging from the samples were the same shape, color and polymer composition—so therefore the same plastic—as the paint on the outside of the caps that seal the glass bottles," she said.

The paint on the caps also had "tiny scratches, invisible to the naked eye, probably due to friction between the caps when there were stored," the agency said in a statement.

This could then "release particles onto the surface of the caps," it added.

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[-] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Title seems misleading.

As the micro plastics were found on the paint outside the bottle cap. It seems complicate that that ended on the drink itself. Unless you are licking the bottle cap it doesn't seem that relevant.

[-] Gobbel2000@programming.dev 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The paint on the caps also had "tiny scratches, invisible to the naked eye, probably due to friction between the caps when there were stored," the agency said in a statement.

This could then "release particles onto the surface of the caps," it added.

Paint scratches off the outside, then sticks to the inside and makes it into the drink.