Paper Straws Are Often Touted as a Great Alternative to Plastic, But There's a Small Problem: They’re Toxic

Initially, many saw paper straws as a solution to the plastic straw problem, but they have their own set of issues. They break down easily, making them difficult to use, so manufacturers tried to address this by making them stronger. However, this also makes them harder to recycle. As a result, they haven’t gained widespread acceptance.

Recently, researchers have discovered that they have an even more serious issue, which could ultimately lead the public to reject them as a viable alternative.

Toxic. A team of researchers from the University of Antwerp in Belgium, has published a study on paper straws in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants, and it’s not good news.

After analyzing 39 brands of straws made of various materials such as plastic, paper, glass, stainless steel, and bamboo, the team found that paper straws contain the most perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances, also known as PFAS. These synthetic substances are considered harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.

What are PFASs? According to the European Environment Agency, PFASs are known as “forever chemicals” because they’re extraordinarily persistent. “They can lead to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer,” the EU agency says.

While these substances pose a very low individual risk, on a large scale, they can be an additional exposure factor and lead to increased health problems. In addition to straws, PFAS can be found in packaged foods, fabrics, paints, electronics, and pizza boxes. The most studied PFAS chemicals are PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate).

Why are PFASs in paper straws? The report found that these PFASs were present in 27 out of 39 tested straw brands. The percentage was even higher for paper straws, as 18 out of 20 brands contained these perfluorinated chemicals. However, it’s unclear why this is the case. These substances might be present accidentally due to the manufacturing process, or they could be intentionally added as a waterproof coating to enhance straw durability.

Stainless steel straws are a much better option. While they’re more expensive, the report states that glass or stainless steel straws are the best choices. Plastic straws are still the worst option, and paper straws don’t seem to be an effective alternative because of to the high PFAS content, despite being marketed as environmentally friendly.

Stainless steel straws aren’t harmful to the environment and don’t degrade because they’re reusable. Although they’re currently less popular due to their higher cost, perhaps it’s time to consider straws as another piece of cutlery.

This article was written by Enrique Pérez and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.

Image | Meghan Rodgers

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