Paper straws used for drinking could cause serious health problems, a new study claims.
Paper straws, according to European researchers, contain ‘forever chemicals’ that can take thousands of years to degrade and have been linked to cancer, thyroid, and liver disorders.
Researchers examined 39 different straw brands and discovered that 90% of the paper straws contained pollutants known as poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
They were discovered in the majority of the straws tested, with paper and bamboo straws being the most frequent. Stainless steel staws were the only ones that were PFAS-free.
PFAS chemicals are potentially harmful to people, wildlife, and the environment, the scientists said.
They degrade slowly over time, lasting thousands of years, and have been linked to a variety of health issues, including a reduced response to immunizations, lower birth weight, thyroid disorders, elevated cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer, and testicular cancer.
They are used to make everyday products, from outdoor clothing to non-stick pans, resistant to water, heat, and stains.
Dr Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp, said: ‘Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic.
‘However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that’s not necessarily true.’
A rising number of nations, like the United Kingdom and Belgium, have prohibited the sale of single-use plastic products such as drinking straws, and plant-based alternatives have become popular substitutes.
The study team bought 39 different types of drinking straws made of five different materials: paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic.
The straws, which were mostly purchased from stores, supermarkets, and fast-food restaurants, were then tested for PFAS in two rounds.
The majority of the brands (27/39, 69 per cent) contained PFAS, with 18 different PFAS detected in total.
The paper straws were most likely to contain PFAS, with the chemicals detected in 18/20 (90 per cent) of the brands tested.
PFAS were also detected in 4/5 (80 per cent) brands of bamboo straw, three-quarters of the plastic straw brands, and 2/5 (40 per cent) brands of glass straw.
They were not detected in any of the five types of steel straw tested.
PFAS can remain in the body for many years and concentrations can build up over time.
‘Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body,’ said Dr Groffen.