Earl Gray Teas Examined for PFAS 'Eternally Chemical substances' — Information
Initially revealed on Mamavation: December 17, 2024
Which Earl Gray teas shouldn’t have PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances” current contained in the tea leaves? That is the query we tried to reply once we despatched the most well-liked Earl Gray manufacturers inside our group to an EPA-certified laboratory to (1) have the tea leaves examined for 40 PFAS analytes after which (2) have the tea luggage examined for complete fluorine.
You’ve got trusted Mamavation to deliver you shopper research like most secure olive oils examined for phthalates, most secure espresso examined for PFAS, mycotoxins, and pesticides, most secure water filters, and most secure cookware, now be a part of us for our newest research testing in style Earl Gray teas for particular PFAS compounds.
Disclosure: This shopper research is launched in partnership with Environmental Well being Information. Scientific critiques have been carried out by (1) Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the Nationwide Institute of Environmental Well being Sciences and Nationwide Toxicology Program and Scholar in Residence at Duke College, Adjunct Professor on the College of North Carolina, and Yale College, and (2) Scott Belcher, Affiliate Professor with the Middle for Environmental and Well being Results of PFAS at North Carolina State College.
This publish was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations have been supplied by Environmental Well being Information and Mamavation group members. Be aware that Mamavation has solely “spot-checked” the {industry} and thus we can’t make predictions about manufacturers and merchandise that we’ve got not examined. Merchandise and manufacturing aides can change with out discover so purchaser beware.
This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks, with some to Amazon, which implies Mamavation will obtain a portion of these gross sales and we’ll use that to pay ourselves again for the testing. You can even give a tax-deductible donation to our shopper research right here by means of Environmental Well being Sciences. Thanks!
Traces of PFAS ‘Eternally Chemical substances’ Have been Present in Most Earl Gray Tea Leaves
Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory discovered per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances”) in 11 in style Earl Gray tea leaves. These chemical substances are linked to severe well being results, which we’ll focus on later. As a result of PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances” are so problematic to regular hormone motion, Mamavation has commissioned our personal scientific research on PFAS in meals merchandise to make suggestions for the most secure Earl Gray teas.
Proceed studying Mamavation’s article on these merchandise to search out which manufacturers have the most secure Earl Gray tea in keeping with our laboratory.
For this shopper research, Mamavation despatched 12 in style Earl Gray tea from 12 manufacturers to an EPA-certified laboratory in search of particular PFAS compounds. As a result of Mamavation solely examined one product per model, we can’t declare to know if these points are, in truth, industry-wide or brand-wide. Nevertheless, primarily based on our “spot-check” of the {industry}, that is what we discovered:
- 91% of Earl Gray Tea Leaves had detectable PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances” in keeping with our lab. That is 11 out of 12 Earl Gray tea manufacturers examined had PFAS.
- 25% of Earl Gray Tea Leaves had quantifiable ranges of PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances” in keeping with our lab. This implies the degrees of PFAS discovered have been excessive sufficient to quantify. That is 3 out of 12 Earl Gray tea manufacturers.
- The most typical kind of PFAS discovered by our lab was Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA).
- 100% of tea luggage examined by our lab had complete fluorine ranges, a mixture of inorganic fluoride and potential PFAS. As a result of black tea is understood to have excessive quantities of fluoride, you may assume most of what we discovered was inorganic fluoride and never PFAS.
- 33% of tea luggage had over 100 ppm complete fluorine. That is 3 tea luggage out of 9 complete examined. This may doubtless be excessive quantities of inorganic fluoride and never PFAS.
Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director of the Nationwide Institute of Environmental Well being Sciences and Nationwide Toxicology Program and Scholar in Residence at Duke College, Adjunct Professor on the College of North Carolina, and Yale College had this to say: “It is disappointing to search out so many PFAS chemical substances inside Earl Gray Tea. We actually don’t need or want extra publicity to hormone-disrupting chemical substances.”
Particular PFAS Discovered by Mamavation’s Laboratory
Mamavation’s laboratory discovered three particular PFAS chemical substances throughout the Earl Gray tea leaves. Though we weren’t capable of get particular particulars of the place every model’s sourcing farms have been situated, many of the geographic areas sourced from primarily based on advertising and marketing supplies and customer support inquiries have been Sri Lanka, China, India, and the USA. These chemical substances are listed as essentially the most generally present in our research. In different phrases, essentially the most generally discovered was PFPeA.
• PFPeA — Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) is a lesser-known PFAS compound most notably present in firefighting foams, industrial surfactants, stain-resistant coatings for textiles, carpets, and furnishings. PFPeA is an instance of “short-chain” PFAS compounds which have been created to switch “long-chain” PFAS, corresponding to PFOA and PFOS.
Though PFPeA has not been studied intensively, such “short-chain” PFAS chemical substances have already turn out to be very persistent within the setting and might get into locations they weren’t anticipated to be discovered. In animal research, this chemical has additionally been linked to liver issues, inflammatory responses, and immune points. North Carolina is the state the place this chemical is most probably discovered within the water provide.
This chemical is a part of a household of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, which has similarities in construction to PFOA however with a carbon chain size of 5 carbons. PFPeA will also be discovered within the physique as a consequence of dermal contact.
• PFOA — Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is essentially the most effectively studied PFAS chemical with all kinds of opposed well being results in each animals and other people. This chemical has been categorised as carcinogenic to people by The Worldwide Company for Analysis on Most cancers (IARC)and the U.S. EPA.
Many PFAS, corresponding to PFOA, don’t break down within the setting through pure processes and are generally known as “ceaselessly chemical substances” due to their standing as a persistent natural pollutant (POP). PFOA is understood to maneuver by means of the setting and contaminate ingesting water and soil because it bioaccumulates.
Residues have been persistently discovered all through the world in wildlife, people, and the setting.
• PFHxA — Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) has been reviewed by the Environmental Safety Company (EPA) and is taken into account a hormone-disrupting chemical. PFHxA is usually a “breakdown product” of different PFAS compounds and can be one other “short-chain” PFAS chemical that changed “long-chain” PFAS chemical substances in commerce. It’s utilized in stain-resistant materials, paper meals packaging, carpets, and manufacturing photographic movie.
Latest Research on PFAS in Teas Have Demonstrated Widespread Contamination
The previous 5 years have seen a flurry of research taking a look at particular PFAS compounds and sure meals and drinks like tea. We couldn’t discover a research that appeared particularly at Earl Gray teas, nevertheless, many different varieties of tea like inexperienced tea have been studied and located to comprise sure compounds of PFAS.
The truth is, one research claimed that individuals who drank extra tea have been extra prone to have increased ranges of PFAS of their blood. Listed here are some latest examples of research finished on teas:
- In a research revealed in 2023, tea luggage coming from India have been discovered to comprise PFOS, PFHxS, and PFuNA current within the tea bag powder and tea bag materials.
- In a research revealed in 2022, bubble tea was discovered to comprise sure PFAS compounds at regarding ranges.
- In a Japanese research revealed in 2021, PFAS was present in Japanese teas, amongst different merchandise like bottled water and juice.
- One other research in 2021 discovered particular PFAS compounds in beer and tea.
- A research in 2020 discovered that espresso/tea was related to increased plasma concentrations of particular PFAS as effectively.
As a result of tea is an on a regular basis product utilized by tens of millions of households in the USA, Mamavation wished to ascertain which Earl Gray tea manufacturers could be thought-about the “most secure” by way of PFAS.
Most Tea Baggage Examined by Mamavation’s Lab Examined Have been Discovered to Comprise Fluorine
To check the tea sachets, we appeared for a broad class of fluorine-containing chemical substances as an alternative of testing for natural fluorine. The testing had some limitations when a lot fluoride was current, which is to be anticipated with Earl Gray teas.
So we’re reporting the ends in complete fluorine as an alternative of natural fluorine, which is a mixture of each natural fluorine and fluoride. This implies the outcomes would come with fluoride from the tea leaves rubbing up in opposition to the tea sachets and likewise indications of PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances” collectively.
Not all manufacturers had out there tea luggage. A few of them have been in powder type or had solely unfastened tea leaves out there. However If we have been capable of buy tea luggage from the model, we examined these tea luggage individually. As well as, we bought unfastened tea leaves to check those who weren’t beforehand inside tea luggage for the outcomes of the 40 PFAS compounds.
Complete fluorine is usually a good indicator of PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances.” Based on Scott Belcher, Affiliate Professor with the Middle for Environmental and Well being Results of PFAS at North Carolina State College, “the chemical testing strategies used consider the fluorine within the samples, by changing the fluorine present in PFAS and a few drugs to fluoride.
Detecting extra quantities of fluoride, a standard mineral, suggests the presence of PFAS and different artificial fluorinated chemical substances, which may embrace inorganic fluoride.”
Mamavation’s Investigation of Earl Gray Tea and 40 Analyte PFAS Testing
Earl Gray Tea was bought between August 2023 and June 2024. For this shopper research, two units of merchandise have been bought largely from Amazon together with loose-leaf Earl Gray tea leaves and units of Earl Gray tea in tea sachet luggage. Every product was recorded in our database after which despatched on to the lab inside its unique packaging.
Testing unfastened leaf tea — Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory used methodology EPA 1633 to check for 40 PFAS compounds, together with the next:
Perflurobutanoic acid (PFBA) | Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) |
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) |
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) |
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) |
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) |
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA) | Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) |
Perfluoropentansulfonic acid (PFPeS) | Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) |
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) |
Perfluoronanesulfonic acid (PFNS) | Perfluorodecanesulfonic acid (PFDS) |
Perfluorododecanesulfonic acid (PFDoS) | 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2FTS) |
1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2FTS) | 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2FTS) |
Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) | N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (NMeFOSA) |
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (NEtFOSA) | N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSE) |
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoethanol (NEtFOSE) | Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) |
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) |
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) |
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (9CI-PF3ONS) | 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11CI-PF3OUdS) |
Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | 3-Perfluoropropyl propanoic acid (3:3FTCA) |
2H,2H,3H,3H-Perfluorooctanoic acid (5:3FTCA) | 3-Perfluoroheptyl propanoic acid (7:3FTCA) |
Testing tea luggage — Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory makes use of marker testing to establish the potential presence of PFAS “ceaselessly chemical substances” in tea sachets. Complete fluorine is a marker for PFAS as a result of all PFAS chemical substances are carbon-based compounds that comprise fluorine.
The precise lab methodology used to check for complete fluorine was the Willpower of Complete Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode. This marker testing is prone to present the presence of PFAS.
Along with inorganic fluoride, fluorine additionally captures different fluoropolymers, prescribed drugs, and customary hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, corresponding to 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (generally generally known as R-134a) and a couple of,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (generally generally known as HFO-1234yf), that are all additionally PFAS.
• Not our favourite Earl Gray teas — Our lab discovered quantifiable quantities of particular PFAS inside these tea leaves. Of the 40 PFAS analytes examined for no less than one was discovered. We additionally put manufacturers right here the place we discovered over 200 ppm of complete fluorine within the tea sachets.
◦ Allegro Tea Natural Floral Earl Gray Tea — 0.643 ng/g (ppb) PFPeA
▪ Tea bag — 14 ppm complete fluorine
◦ Frontier Co-Op Earl Gray Black Tea Licensed Natural Tea — 0.415 ng/g (ppb) PFPeA
▪ No tea bag
◦ Numi Natural Black Tea Aged Earl Gray Assam Aged with Actual Bergamot — <MRL PFPeA
▪ Tea bag — 522 ppm complete fluorine
◦ Pique Miss Gray Black Tea Power/Digestion Bioavailable Full Spectrum Tea Crystals — 0.401 ng/g (ppb) PFPeA, <MRL PFOA
▪ No tea bag
◦ Stash Free Leaf Double Bergamot Earl Gray — <MRL PFPeA
▪ Tea bag — 388 ppm complete fluorine
◦ Taylors Earl Gray Leaf Tea Black Tea with Pure Oil of Bergamot — <MRL PFOA
▪ Tea bag — 260 ppm complete fluorine
• Higher Earl Gray teas — Our lab couldn’t discover quantifiable quantities of particular PFAS compounds; nevertheless, they did discover the presence of no less than one particular PFAS compound throughout the tea leaves. This implies the lab may detect PFAS, but it surely wasn’t in excessive sufficient quantities to find out how a lot was in there. If tea luggage have been out there, our lab additionally examined these luggage individually for complete fluorine, which is an indicator of PFAS and fluoride mixed.
◦ Harney and Sons Grasp Tea Blenders Earl Gray Flavored Black Tea — <MRL PFPeA
▪ Tea bag — 16 ppm complete fluorine
◦ Mighty Leaf Natural Earl Gray Easy Black Tea — <MRL PFPeA
▪ Tea bag — 15 ppm complete fluorine
◦ Natural Positively Tea Firm Earl Gray De La Creme Natural Black Tea, Pure Vanilla Flavoring, Natural Cornflowers and Pure Bergamot Flavoring — <MRL PFPeA
▪ No tea bag
◦ The Republic of Tea Earl Greyer Full-Leaf Free Black Tea Premium High quality Black Tea Leaves and Pure Oil of Bergamot — <MRL PFPeA, <MRL PFOA
▪ Tea bag — 18 ppm complete fluorine
◦ Two Leaves and a Bud 50 Bare Sachets Earl Gray Entire Leaf Black Tea — <MRL PFPeA, <MRL PFHxA
▪ Tea bag — 21 ppm complete fluorine
• Greatest Earl Gray teas — Our lab decided no PFAS compounds have been discovered within the Earl Gray tea leaves. Nevertheless, the tea luggage had detectable fluorine.
◦ FGO Natural Earl Gray Free Leaf Tea Plant-Primarily based Full-Bodied Taste with a Contact of Bergamot — Non-detect
▪ Tea bag — 17 ppm complete fluorine
In regards to the Writer
Leah Segedie is the President and Founding father of Mamavation.com. Mamavation produces award-winning content material and unbiased shopper research inspecting the intersection of endocrine-disrupting chemical substances (EDCs) and on a regular basis merchandise introduced into American households. She’s been referred to by many as “the true FDA.”
Since 2008, Mamavation has been serving to on a regular basis mothers navigate the grocery retailer by commissioning shopper research on meals, drinks, private care merchandise and different such merchandise and thus democratizing science and testing for everybody.
