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Have you ever wondered how microplastics might be hiding in everyday items—including something as common as chewing gum?
Dr. Sanjay Mohanty, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, along with doctoral student Lisa Lowe, presented a study examining the presence of microplastics in chewing gum. Their research found that both natural and synthetic, plastic-based chewing gums can release microplastics. While there is currently no conclusive evidence that microplastics are harmful to human health, the study raises important questions about daily exposure. The findings were presented at the American Chemical Society’s Spring Meeting in San Diego and Dr. Mohanty was featured in a CNN article.
“Chewing gum is one of the foods we chose because it is the only food where plastic polymer is used as an ingredient,” Mohanty told CNN via email. “Other foods are contaminated with microplastics because of how they are processed and packaged.” To the authors’ knowledge, their study is the first “that examined or compared microplastics in chewing gums available commercially,” Mohanty added.
The study sheds light on how widespread microplastic exposure may be, and underscores the importance of further research into its potential impacts on human health and the environment.
The research study was also featured in Newsweek, the Independent, Popular Science and Discover.
For more on Dr. Mohanty’s work, visit the Research News section on our website or find the full feature in UCLA’s Newsroom under Science + Technology.
Featured Article on CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/25/health/gum-microplastics-study-wellness/index.html