Chewing gum could contain microplastics, study says

(CNN) - If you like chewing gum, you may be surprised to learn that you are bringing in potentially hundreds of microplastics into your mouth.

Researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles conducted a study and tested nearly a dozen popular chewing gums.

They found that, on average, one gram of chewing gum releases about 100 microplastics, while others release more than 600.

A typical stick of gum can weigh anywhere from one to several grams.

Researchers also found about 94% of microplastics were released within the first eight minutes of chewing.

Health experts say microplastics can threaten people’s health in part because they potentially carry harmful bacteria that could contribute to the growth of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

The study was presented at the American Chemical Society in San Diego on Tuesday. The research still needs to be peer-reviewed before it can be published.