this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2025
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The researchers found an average of around 100 microplastic particles per liter in glass bottles of soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea and beer. That was five to 50 times higher than the rate detected in plastic bottles or metal cans.

"We expected the opposite result," Ph.D. student Iseline Chaib, who conducted the research, told AFP.

"We then noticed that in the glass, the particles emerging from the samples were the same shape, color and polymer composition—so therefore the same plastic—as the paint on the outside of the caps that seal the glass bottles," she said.

The paint on the caps also had "tiny scratches, invisible to the naked eye, probably due to friction between the caps when there were stored," the agency said in a statement.

This could then "release particles onto the surface of the caps," it added.

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[–] Numenor@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago (5 children)

We just need glass caps then

[–] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 31 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Or just unpainted aluminium caps.

[–] Teanut@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I thought bottle caps were steel.

[–] tgxn@lemmy.tgxn.net 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

they usually have a plastic lining inside them, or are painted.

[–] creisel@lemmy.zip 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

When I was a kid they were made from metal

[–] SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

When I was a kid they were made from cork.

[–] creisel@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They are still made from cork.

[–] creisel@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] creisel@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 months ago

Well yes, but they mostly switch to plastic as well for different reasons.

[–] Shapillon@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

In a bizarre twist, glass caps have been found to contain alarming levels of microdrink.

[–] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I quite like the swing tops with a small rubber ring that makes the seal. Easily reused too. Which is better than recycling.

[–] 6nk06@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

It actually exists for some brands of wine. It's annoying to open though.