Do Nylon Tea Bags Release Microplastics in Hot Water?
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 3/28/2026
When you steep a nylon tea bag in boiling water, you aren't just brewing tea. You are brewing plastic. A 2026 study published in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts confirms that nylon tea bags shed massive amounts of microplastics directly into your cup.
Researchers found that steeping these bags in 100 °C water for just 5 minutes released between 16,000 and 24,000 microplastic particles per milliliter. These particles include both large (LMPs) and small (SMPs) fragments. The study highlights that children face a significantly higher estimated daily intake of these plastics compared to adults.
Even cold brewing doesn't save you. While hot water releases more large particles, cold brewing for one hour released an equal quantity of small microplastics. The material is breaking down regardless of the temperature.
It is time to ditch the convenience of synthetic bags. If you want to keep plastic out of your tea, switch to loose-leaf tea using a stainless steel infuser or unbleached paper filters. We have curated a selection of non-toxic kitchen alternatives to help you make the swap today.