NEW YORK, March 25: A recent study has revealed exciting news for tea lovers: brewing tea can remove about 15% of lead from water. The research, summarized by CNN, explored how tea brewing may naturally adsorb heavy metals like lead, chromium, copper, and cadmium.

The process of adsorption refers to when a solid material holds molecules of a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance on its surface or within internal surfaces, such as crevices. The study tested both tea leaves and tea bags, and found that cellulose bags performed the best in terms of absorbing metals. On the other hand, cotton and nylon bags absorbed very little. However, the scientists pointed out that nylon bags have their own environmental concerns, as they release microplastics.

Interestingly, the study also found that finely ground leaves, particularly black tea, adsorbed more contaminants than whole leaves. Moreover, the longer the tea was steeped, the more effective the absorption of metals was, regardless of the tea type or bag used.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has long warned about the risks of lead in drinking water. In adults, lead exposure can lead to kidney damage, reproductive issues, and other health problems. For children, even low levels of lead can cause slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, as lead exposure can increase the risk of premature birth and stunt fetal growth.

This study comes at a time when concerns about water quality are growing. One study found that more than 20% of the U.S. population might rely on groundwater with detectable levels of PFAS, often called "forever chemicals." Another study in France uncovered alarming levels of microplastics in both bottled and tap water.

Vinayak Dravid, the lead author of the study and Abraham Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, told CNN that this research is one of the few "systematic" studies that brings advanced technology and meaningful statistics to a topic as simple as tea brewing. He emphasized the limited research on how tea brewing could help capture, rather than release, contaminants.

Dravid added, “We’re not suggesting that everyone starts using tea leaves as a water filter… but our work highlights the potential for tea consumption to passively help reduce heavy metal exposure for populations around the world.”