In a revelation that steeping tea may do more than soothe your soul, Northwestern University scientists have discovered that brewing tea, specifically with certain tea bags, can significantly reduce harmful heavy metals like lead from water. A study published in ACS Food Science & Technology demonstrated that this seemingly simple act could have profound implications for personal and environmental health.
Lead researcher and professor of materials science Vinayak Dravid spearheaded the research, which took a surprising turn when they found brewed tea could remove charged ions from heavy metals in waters of varied concentrations. "We all wondered if in addition to releasing wonderful flavor and other contents from the tea leaves, if tea leaves and bags encasing the leaves would in turn capture dissolved toxins," Dravid told the Chicago Sun-Times.
With more than five billion cups of tea consumed daily worldwide, the potential for natural water remediation seems both accessible and widespread. According to the study, a single cup of tea brewed for three to five minutes can remove roughly 15% of lead from water. "Our approach is to find nanoscale solutions to giga-ton problems of environmental pollution," said Dravid regarding work akin to his study and its ramifications on larger pollutant cleanups.
However, not all teas are created equal in the fight against contamination. Benjamin Shindel, a materials scientist at Northwestern University and a key player in the study, pointed out to Live Science, "Any tea that steeps for longer or has higher surface area will effectively remediate more heavy metals." The study also emphasized the effectiveness of using cellulose tea bags over cotton or nylon, which adsorbing practically no contaminants, an important distinction for consumers concerned about environmental health.
"In resource-limited situations, perhaps cleaning one glass at a time is likely to be more effective with immediate and lasting impact," explains Dravid, mindful of the practical applications beyond academic interest.
