Paper straws may be harmful to health and no more environmentally friendly than plastic because they contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals, a recent study published in Food Additives & Contaminants found.
In the first analysis of its kind in Europe and only the second in the world, Belgian researchers tested 39 brands of straws made from five materials – paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic – for the group of synthetic chemicals known as poly- and perfluoroalkyls substances (PFAS).
PFASs are used to make everyday products, from outdoor clothing to non-stick pans, resistant to water, heat and stains. However, they are potentially harmful to humans, wildlife and the environment. They break down very slowly and can persist for thousands of years in the environment, a property that has led them to be known as "forever chemicals". They have also been associated with a number of health problems, including lower response to vaccines, lower birth weight, thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer and testicular cancer.
The majority of brands (27/39, 69%) contained PFAS, with 18 different PFAS detected in total. Paper straws were most likely to contain PFAS, with the chemicals detected in 18/20 (90%) of the brands tested. PFASs were also detected in 4/5 (80%) bamboo brands, 3/4 (75%) plastic straw brands, and 2/5 (40%) glass straw brands. They were not detected in any of the five types of metal straws tested. The most commonly detected PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been banned globally since 2020. Also detected were trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS), "ultra-short-chain" PFASs, which are highly water-soluble and thus can be washed away from straws to drinks.
PFAS concentrations were low, and considering that most people tend to use straws only occasionally, they pose a limited risk to human health. However, PFASs can remain in the body for many years and concentrations can increase over time. "Small amounts of PFAS, although not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body," says Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp who participated in this study. It is not known, however, whether the PFASs were added to the straws by the manufacturers to seal them, or whether they were the result of soil or water contamination during production.
A growing number of countries, including the UK and Belgium, have banned the sale of single-use plastic products, including straws, and plant-based versions have become popular alternatives. “Straws made from plant materials such as paper and bamboo are often advertised as more sustainable and environmentally friendly than those made from plastic,” says Groffen, “However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that this is not it is necessarily true."
Source: ERT