Glass bottles leak 50x more microplastics than plastic: study

A recent French study conducted by ANSES has revealed that drinks sold in glass bottles contain significantly higher levels of microplastics—5 to 50 times more—compared to those in plastic bottles or metal cans. The research, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, analyzed various beverages including beer, soda, lemonade, water, and wine sold in France. Beer showed the highest contamination, averaging 60 microplastic particles per liter, followed by lemonade and soft drinks. In contrast, water and wine had much lower levels of microplastics. Surprisingly, the source of microplastics in glass bottles was traced not to the glass itself but to the paint on the bottle caps, which sheds particles due to microscopic scratches from friction during storage. While the health risks of microplastic ingestion remain uncertain, the study highlights growing concerns as microplastics have been found in human tissues, including the brain, with some research linking higher plastic accumulation to dementia. ANSES noted there is no established safe threshold