Chewing gum releases hundreds to thousands of microplastics into your mouth, a new study suggests. Chewing gum's base ingredient is synthetic rubber, which is a type of plastic. A stick of gum is ...

New study finds chewing gum releases up to 637 microplastic particles in just minutes, with 94% released in the first 8 minutes regardless of gum type.

Each gram of chewing gum could release up to 637 microplastic particles, with 94% released within the first 8 minutes of chewing. Synthetic and natural plant-based gums released similar amounts of ...

On average, chewing a stick of gum, which can weigh between one to six grams, released up to 600 microplastic shards per gram, they found. If someone chewed 180 pieces per year, they could be ...

The plastic shed by chewing gum was three times wider than a red blood cell. SmirkDingo / Alamy Stock Photo. This is important because the microplastics that are known to be capable of harming ...

The researchers examined both synthetic gum and natural alternatives made with plant-based polymers such as tree sap. (Image: Canva) Chewing gum may be quietly introducing tiny plastic fragments ...

Study Subject Chewed Each Piece of Gum for 4 or 20 Minutes. To find out more about microplastics and chewing gum, scientists analyzed 10 popular chewing gum brands, five natural and five synthetic.

The chewing gum industry is big business, worth an estimated $48.68 billion (37.7 billion pounds) in 2025. Three companies own 75% of the market share, the largest of which is Wrigley, with an ...

There are some plastic-free chewing gum alternatives on the market, including Nuud. In 2018, Iceland became the first UK supermarket chain to stock and sell plastic-free chewing gum when it introduced ...

Personal Perspective: Gum chewing, a habit I've had for over 60 years, relaxes me and connects me with my past. How incredible that a simple act can add so much to one's life.

Young men are buying “Facial Fitness” chewing gum that promises to bulk up their jawlines. But dentists say the products are not particularly effective or safe.