New research has revealed that plastic coffee capsules may contain a chemical that affects human metabolism.
Capsule-based coffee machines are a convenient solution for those looking to make the drink quickly. The choice, however, can have serious health consequences.
A study carried out by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Connecticut found that “coffee brewed from capsule machines may contain estrogenic chemicals migrated from plastic.”
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Research leader Ock Chun explained that these estrogenic chemicals, which can mimic the hormone estrogen, are often found in plastic coffee pods. These substances could potentially affect the endocrinological regulation of the body.
According to Chun, these chemicals could end up contaminating the drink during the brewing process, when high-temperature, high-pressure water is injected into the plastic capsule to quickly extract the coffee.
Chun stressed, however, that the investigation is ongoing and it is still early to sound the alarm bells. What’s more, the scientist clarified that these chemicals are present in various things that are in our daily lives, such as disposable cups and even the paper on which store receipts are printed.
On the other hand, the researcher pointed out that the research is relevant since “coffee-drinking is a habitual behavior”.
The study was published in the scientific journal Current Research in Toxicology.
