copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2020-03-18): Would you like plastic with your tea? That sounds like a pretty straight forward question, but it’s also a bit of a trick question. Not all tea bags are created equal and for those people who are trying to go plastic-free, it may be time to re-evaluate what’s in your cup of tea. [...] Heat sealed bags, such as the round and square tag-less varieties, contain a small amount of plastic. The tea bag itself is often made with a natural fiber, however, natural fibers don’t melt and fuse together which is why the synthetic materials are added. These tea bags have a small amount of plastic thread that goes around the edge and then the heat seal melts the two sides of the tea bag together. These tea bags are not compostable. [...] The first question is which tea bags are plastic-free. When doing research for this post, I found a lot of information on British tea companies. Of course. What is more British than a cup of tea? But American tea manufacturers weren’t so upfront with posting what’s in their tea bags on their company website or answering my questions when I called them directly.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2022-10-10): At ORGANIC INDIA, we believe in plastic-free tea bags to protect your body and the earth; and preserve the pure, organic tea experience that you deserve. Unfortunately, the industry norm is to include plastic in the mesh tea bag, which releases billions of microplastics and nanoplastics into your infusion. Consuming microplastics, as you can imagine, can have negative impacts on your health and on the earth. [...] Yes, but not all tea bags. The vast majority of brands on the shelves have mesh tea bags that are composed of 20-30% plastic. According to studies, a single standard tea bag releases 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into every cup of tea. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of this fact and opting either for loose teas, or selecting tea brands that have no plastic in the teabag. ORGANIC INDIA tea bags do not contain plastic, and are made instead of unbleached filter paper that is verified home compostable, biodegradable, Non-GMO, allergen-free and chemical-free. [...] In short, yes. Microplastics in tea bags can be harmful not only for the environment, but for human health as well. Microplastics may enter the human system through ingestion, inhalation or dermal absorption. Studies have shown that microplastics have potential to cause damage to the cells in the quantities currently found in food and beverages like tea. In addition to cell damage, regular consumption of microplastics may cause immune disruption, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity in the body.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2020-08-07): When I learned that most bagged tea has plastic, I became curious about how often this happened. I have been a life-long tea lover, so I opened my kitchen cabinet and found that all of my favorite tea brands had used plastic in some way. I was drowning in plastic. It disgusts me to even think about how much plastic I have put into my body over my entire life. I realized how wasteful all of my tea was. A few days after learning about my plastic-infected tea stash I took myself to the ëcoffee and teaí aisle in the grocery store. I was disappointed that I never took the time before to actually look at what I was putting in my body. Every tea option on the shelf was a company that used plastic tea bags. [...] McGill University that found plastic teabags do much more than just hold the tea leaves. Steeping one teabag releases 11.6 billion particles of microplastic into one cup of tea. The high water temperature used in brewing allows the teabag to break down and let plastic be set free in your cup. The amount of plastic found from using teabags were thousands of times higher than what was in other foods and beverages, including bottled water. Bagged tea also contains metals. Microplastics can also contain heavy metals, like lead and aluminum.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2024-09-24): If you didn’t already know, I am English, and am true to the stereotype… I LOVE a good old cup of tea! But did you know that this simple habit can actually have a negative impact on the environment, and despite what people think – it’s not always easy to compost tea bags. Setting aside the ethical issues relating to the farming of tea, a tea bag it’s self can actually contain plastic. Nothing like a cup of microplastics with my breakfast! [...] This means, that while most tea bags will break down, the materials that they break down into can contain microplastics, and won’t be nutritional. They’ll even sometimes be harmful to the environment. Fortunately, more and more brands are becoming aware of the issue, and are releasing plastic free tea bag ranges. [...] The most common plastic in tea bags is known as polypropylene, which can make up around 30% of your average tea bag. Other plastics can be found in silk style tea bags and a plastic glue may be used to seal the bags too.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2020-02-03): How it contains plastic: You may have been warned against microwaving your leftovers in plastic containers since heating plastic speeds the transfer of toxic chemicals and releases microplastics into your food. So, by the same logic, shouldn’t we avoid soaking plastic bags in boiling hot water that we plan to consume? This study found that steeping a single plastic teabag at brewing temperature (95 °C) releases approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics. Just when we thought we were making a healthy choice to shake up our morning caffeine craving! Ways to avoid it: This doesn’t mean you should stop enjoying tea altogether. Loose leaf tea gives you all the benefits, minus the plastic. Look up a local tea store near you or search the web for endless options. It often comes at a higher price point so you may want to consider making your own. Peppermint, chamomile, lavender, ginger, and lemon, are all the ingredients you need to make some tasty blends. Add some orange, vanilla, or cinnamon for added flavor. [...] How it contains plastic: Remember how many paper products contain a plastic liner and toxic PFAS chemicals? Microwavable popcorn bags are no exception. It helps keep the buttery, greasy goodness contained in the bag until it’s done popping. Problem is, you must heat the bag to get the kernels to pop, thereby releasing those PFAS into your food. Bonus: avoid non-stick cookware for these same reasons.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2024-02-19): One paper published in 2019 found that, when brewed with boiling water, a single plastic teabag can release approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nano-plastics into a single cup of tea. The researchers concluded that the levels of nylon and PET particles released from the teabag packaging were "several orders of magnitude higher" than plastic loads previously reported in other foods. [...] What is known is that tea is far from the sole dietary source of minuscule plastics. Seafood, fruit, vegetables and drinking water have all been linked to microplastic contamination. Even the air you’re breathing now may be contaminated with tiny polymers that have shed from some nearby plastic product.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2019-10-28): Plastic in tea bags is the subject of one of the most attention-grabbing reports on tea in recent years. It appeared in late September 2019 and within a day was being widely posted, in general news sites, and tea, food and medical posts. It describes the finding of a small scale, focused study that the plastic breaks up into billions of "micro-particles" and "nano-particles" when brewed at the normal heat and for the normal time. [...] The counterview is that there is no evidence of harm from plastic particle ingestion so muffle the alarm bells. That’s the stated position of the World Health Organization. The plastic is excreted and found in human feces without affecting the body’s cells or remaining in internal organs. The Tea and Herbal Association of Canada issued a statement immediately following the publication of the McGill study that the two plastics in the bags have been approved as entirely safe in hot food and beverages. The rapidly emerging innovation path among the leading tea bag brands is to get rid of plastic entirely and reports on the article are misleading in their frequent statements that the reverse trend is dominant. [...] - Avoid plastic tea bags completely: you can check out where a brand stands in the move to biodegradable bags – if you really prefer bagged tea – by seeing what it highlights on its Web site. Look for the elite B Corporations that pass a thorough certification process for social contribution, of which environmentally safe packaging is a core factor.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2018-04-05): When I first heard that there was plastic in tea bags, I was shocked. It turns out I wasn’t the only one. The subsequent blog post I wrote about it (back in 2014) is my most popular post to date, having been shared more than 44,000 times. (Yes, 44 thousand. That’s a lot of shocked tea drinkers, right there.) [...] Youâd be forgiven for thinking that organic teabags would be plastic-free, but in fact, the majority of those contain plastic too. [...] Now I’d love to hear from you! Did you know that most teabags contain plastic? If you did know, have you made the switch? Have you found a brand of plastic-free tea? Have you given up the teabags and embraced the loose leaf? Have you found a different solution? Please share in the comments below!
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2023-11-01): Recent studies by ResearchGate on Health risks posed by microplastics in teabags have highlighted concerns about microplastics from tea bags contaminating food and water sources. In response, there is a growing movement towards more sustainable and eco-friendly tea bags. [...] A 2019 study found that a single plastic tea bag can release 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nano plastics into one cup of tea. This is no doubt a major health concern for tea drinkers who love to have their daily cup of tea. [...] Plastic tea bags release microplastic and nanoplastic particles into a cup of tea, according to Canadian researchers.
Claim: All Tea Bags Contain Harmful Microplastics!! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-06)
Evidence (2019-09-27): Some premium tea bags might be leaving billions of microscopic plastic particles in your cup, new research suggests. Canadian researchers found that some plastic tea bags shed high levels of microplastics into water. [...] They found that a single plastic teabag released about 11.6bn microplastic and 3.1bn smaller nanoplastic particles into the hot water. The particles are completely invisible to the naked eye.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-08): The claim that Imane Khelif is biologically male and ineligible to compete in women's boxing at the Paris Games is not true. Despite the IBA's disqualification in 2023, the IOC has confirmed her eligibility and emphasized their commitment to non-discrimination based on sex variations. The backlash against Khelif appears to stem from misunderstandings or misinformation about DSDs and transgender issues. Additionally, the related claim regarding Kellie Harrington refusing to compete against "biological males" has been debunked by the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-02): Fact check on Algerian fighter Imane Khelif, DSDs, biology and Olympic boxing [...] Fact check: Imane Khelif is a woman [...] Trump's running mate JD Vance shared a video of the match on X, falsely calling Khelif a man and suggesting Kamala Harris' stance on gender leads to a "disgusting," outcome.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-02): Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has found herself at the center of a heated debate following her controversial match against Italy's Angela Carini at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The match, which took place in the round of 16, saw Carini forfeiting after just 46 seconds. Carini later explained that she had never been hit as hard in the ring before, sparking a flood of reactions and controversies online of her being a 'Biological male' and there was a lot of outrage over a 'man' being allowed to beat up a woman inside the ring. [...] This controversy led to Khelif being inaccurately labeled as transgender. In reality, Khelif has always competed in women's categories and has never identified as male or transgender. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has since disassociated itself from the IBA. As a result, the boxing events at the 2024 Olympics are being organized by the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU), an ad-hoc unit established by the IOC's Executive Board. [...] Khelif's case highlights ongoing issues related to gender eligibility in sports. Differences of Sexual Development (DSD), which involve variations in genes, hormones, and reproductive organs, can complicate an athlete's eligibility. Some individuals with DSD may have the XY sex chromosomes and blood testosterone levels in the male range while being raised as females. This condition can give them an undue advantage in women's sports due to higher testosterone levels, increased muscle mass, skeletal advantages, and faster-twitch muscle fibers.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-27): The International Boxing Association (IBA) accused Imane Khelif of being biologically male on August 5, 2023. The Algerian boxer's gender is under scrutiny after Italy's Angela Carini ceased fighting at the Paris Olympics 2024 after only 46 seconds. [...] Khelif Imane was allowed to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024, even though she had been disqualified from the women's boxing world championships in 2023 for failing gender eligibility tests. Now, her gender is being scrutinised, with people asking, "Is Imane Khelif biologically male?" [...] Despite facing scrutiny, Imane Khelif has been affirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a female athlete. She is reported to have Differences of Sexual Development (DSDs). People with this condition have variations in sexual development, but this doesn't alter their gender identity or participation in women's sports.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-03): The Paris Olympics was at the centre of a major controversy after a ‘gender row’ erupted in women’s boxing. Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was accused of being a ‘biological male’, leading her opponent — Italy’s Angela Carini — to withdraw from their match after just 46 seconds. While Carini apologised on Friday for her post-match behaviour, terming it frustration from her dream of winning the gold "going up in smoke", social media was already embroiled in debates over Khelif’s gender status amid allegations that she is a man or trans-gender and should be banned from the women’s event. Some global media reports indicated that a test conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) had revealed that the Algerian boxer has XY chromosomes [male] and thus did not meet their eligibility requirements. [...] Decoding the complex make-up of chromosomes, Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman and head, endocrinology and diabetes at Max Healthcare, Saket, New Delhi, explained that the media reports indicate that "Khelif has a deficiency in 5-alfa reductase (5-ARD)". "This means that while she was conceived as a boy with XY chromosomes, the penis, scrotum and testes did not fully develop and at first sight, she looked like a girl and was registered as such."
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-02): Olympic boxer Imane Khelif's gender at center of IOC, IBA controversy Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is the target of controversy over her gender and sex after Italian boxer Angela Carini abandoned their Olympics bout on Thursday after only 46 seconds. Shortly after the match, reports falsely surfaced saying that Khelif is a transgender woman; however, she is not and was assigned female at birth, according to the IOC.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-01): Who is Imane Khelif? [...] Khelif is an accomplished amateur who won a silver medal at the International Boxing Association's 2022 world championships. The same governing body disqualified her from last year's championships shortly before her gold-medal match because of what it claimed were elevated levels of testosterone. [...] Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was visiting Italy athletes in the Olympic Village on Thursday, voiced criticism that Carini had to box Khelif, saying she had since 2021 opposed allowing athletes with "genetically male" characteristics to compete against women.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-01): Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is in the middle of a gender eligibility controversy, and the temperature on the drama only turned up after a win over a female Italian fighter at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 1. [...] Khelif is a 25-year-old boxer from Tiaret, Algeria. Khelif, who is currently a UNICEF ambassador, grew up in a rural village in the province and has been open about growing into the sport. Khelif’s father didn’t "approve of boxing for girls," according to UNICEF. [...] "On 24 March 2023, IBA disqualified athletes Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023," the IBA said. "This disqualification was a result of their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition, as set and laid out in the IBA Regulations. This decision, made after a meticulous review, was extremely important and necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition."
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-09-19): Imane Khelif (Arabic: إيمان خليف, romanized: ʾĪmān Khalīf, pronounced [ʔiːˈmaːn xaˈliːf]; born 2 May 1999) is an Algerian professional boxer. She won the gold medal in the Women's 66 kg (welterweight) boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Following Khelif's victory over Italy's Angela Carini during the 2024 Olympic Games, misinformation surfaced on social media about her gender and eligibility to compete. False claims that Khelif is male were fuelled by Khelif's disqualification from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships, organised by the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) after she allegedly failed unspecified gender eligibility tests.[1][2][3] The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Paris Boxing Unit stated Khelif was eligible to compete in the Olympics and criticized the IBA's previous disqualification as "sudden and arbitrary" and taken "without any due process".[4] Khelif was born female,[5][6] and no medical evidence that she has XY chromosomes or elevated levels of testosterone has been published.[7][8][9] [...] Following her round of 16 win over Italy's Angela Carini, Khelif became the subject of wild speculation and falsehoods surrounding her gender - ^ Mashishi, Naledi (2 August 2024). "No, Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif is not a transgender woman". Logically Facts. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-17): Imane Khelif is not "biological male" or "transgender". She was assigned female at birth, based on the observed external genitalia.- She appears to have a condition known as differences of sex development ( [...] Meanwhile, many social media users, including several prominent public figures, labelled Khelif as "biological male", "a male or man" or "transgender". [...] Scientifically speaking, classifying Khelif as 'male' or 'transgender' would not be accurate. In fact, contrary to most claims on the internet, her family claims that her assigned gender was 'female' at birth, as per the official birth certificate that Imane's father, Omar, produced during a French TV interview on BFMTV. This classification hinges on the external genitalia observed at birth, which is the most common practice for identifying biological sex worldwide. However, in rare cases, genitalia-based identification during birth can be an inaccurate way to categorise sex, even in medical terms.Khelif’s biological profile presents a nuanced situation. Born female and identifying as a woman, she appears to have a condition known as differences of sex development (DSD), as per experts cited by The Independent. This inference is based on her XY chromosomal composition, elevated testosterone levels and certain physical features, all of which are traits typically associated with males. Such discrepancies can stem from various genetic conditions, including DSD. With that said, it is important to note that Imane has not publicly confirmed having a DSD.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-05): In early August 2024, an Algerian female boxer at the 2024 Paris Olympics named Imane Khelif was forced into American culture wars over allegations she was a man identifying as a woman to cheat her way to the top. The news cycle began after Khelif's unusually short victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini. [...] The virulently anti-trans X account Libs of TikTok also weighed in, describing Khelif as "a man … being allowed to compete in women's Olympic boxing in Paris." [...] The problem with these arguments was Khelif is neither trans nor male. She was born, and has lived her entire life, as a female. The sanctioned International Boxing Association (IBA) alleged in a confidential report she did not meet the World Boxing Championship requirements for female competition in 2023, despite having competed as a woman in that same competition for many years prior, winning silver in 2022.
Claim: Imane Khelif is Biologically Male !! (Social Media Users, 2024-08-08)
Evidence (2024-08-02): Boxer Imane Khelif is currently competing in the women's 66kg category at the ongoing Paris Olympics, a year after being disqualified from the World Championships due to failing a gender test. However, reports claim that the 25-year-old Algerian is a woman with DSD. [...] Imane Khelif came into the limelight during the ongoing Paris Olympics after her round-of-16 opponent in the 66kg division, Angela Carini, withdrew from their bout after just 46 seconds. The Italian was in tears after the fight and refused to shake hands with the Algerian. It must be noted, however, the Khelif passed the gender eligibility test conducted by the IOC at the Paris Olympics. That means she has been adjudged biologically female by the IOC, contrary to the viral theory about her.