More microplastics in glass bottles than plastic: Study

 A new study by France‍‍`s national food safety agency ANSES has revealed a surprising source of microplastic contamination: glass bottles. Contrary to public assumptions, beverages including water, soda, beer, and wine stored in glass bottles were found to contain significantly more microplastics than those in plastic bottles or metal cans.

The research, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, detected an average of 100 microplastic particles per litre in glass bottles of soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea, and beer. This is five to 50 times higher than levels found in plastic bottles or cans.

“We expected the opposite result,” said Iseline Chaib, the lead researcher and PhD student, speaking to AFP. The team discovered that the particles matched the plastic composition and color of the paint used on the caps of the glass bottles. Microscopic scratches on these caps, likely caused by friction during storage, were identified as the source of the shedding microplastics.

Not All Drinks Affected Equally

The study also found that water—both flat and sparkling—had relatively low microplastic counts, ranging from 4.5 particles per litre in glass bottles to just 1.6 in plastic ones. Wine showed similarly low levels, even when packaged in glass bottles with caps, a finding that researchers say requires further investigation.

In comparison:

• Soft drinks averaged 30 microplastic particles per litre
• Lemonade had about 40
• Beer contained roughly 60

“There is currently no established reference for what constitutes a toxic level of microplastic exposure in humans,” said Guillaume Duflos, ANSES’s research director. “But these findings highlight the need for greater scrutiny of packaging materials.”

Reducing the Risk

While there is still no conclusive evidence on the health effects of ingesting microplastics, ANSES emphasized that beverage manufacturers can take immediate steps to reduce contamination. Tests showed that a simple cleaning process—blowing bottle caps with air, followed by rinsing with water and alcohol—cut microplastic presence by 60 percent.

With microplastics now detected in everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe, this latest discovery underscores the urgent need for innovation in packaging practices and more comprehensive research into long-term health effects.