Microplastics have infiltrated everything: water, air, and even the human body. Scientists are intensively studying their presence, the amounts we come into daily contact with, and—most importantly—their impact on health. It is already known that our exposure to microplastics is constant, through food, water, and the atmosphere.

Until now, most attention has focused on drinking water (tap or bottled), but in reality, all the beverages we consume daily are sources of intake. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices, and energy drinks significantly contribute to our daily fluid—and microplastic—consumption. These particles, measuring between 1 μm and 5 mm, are found in all ecosystems and can accumulate and carry toxic substances through the food chain.

The (worrying) research findings

A new study published in Science of the Total Environment showed that 100% of the 155 hot and cold beverage samples tested in the UK contained synthetic plastic particles. The analysis included coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks, energy drinks, and both tap and bottled water. Even premium brands were not exempt—in some cases, they contained higher concentrations than cheaper ones.

Researchers collected 31 products and analyzed five samples from each. They found traces of polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate—polymers widely used in food packaging and single-use containers. The average daily exposure through beverages was estimated at 1.65 microplastics per kilogram of body weight.

Most particles were fragments (72–93%), measuring 10 to 157 μm, with polypropylene being the most common.

A key finding was the link between temperature and microplastic release: hot tea showed the highest concentration (60 microplastics per liter), compared to 31 in iced tea and 17 in soft drinks. Heat appears to accelerate the leaching of plastics from packaging materials into beverages.

What the findings mean

The study estimated that daily intake reached 1.7 microplastics per kg of body weight for women and 1.6 for men, levels higher than those previously calculated from drinking water alone.

Scientists emphasize that these results highlight the need to evaluate total exposure to microplastics from all beverages, not just water, as otherwise the true scale of the problem may be underestimated.

Study at a glance

• 155 beverage samples (coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks, tap and bottled water)
• 100% contained microplastics
• Most were fragments measuring 10–157 μm
• Hotter drinks = more microplastics
• Average daily exposure: 1.7 particles/kg (women), 1.6 (men)
• Most common polymer: Polypropylene