Straws made from paper can be harmful
Instead of banned plastic straws, restaurants now offer paper straws. But these can also be harmful to the environment and health, warns a group of researchers in the journal “Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A”.
Many supposedly eco-friendly straws made from paper or bamboo contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS. The sale of plastic straws is banned in the EU as of 3 July 2021. A team of researchers, led by Thimo Groffen of the University of Antwerp, examined straws marketed under 39 brands available in Belgium. Of the 20 paper straws tested, 18 were found to contain PFAS. The scientists detected varying levels of PFAS in four out of five bamboo straws, three out of four plastic straws and two out of five glass straws. Only stainless steel straws did not contain PFAS. PFASs – per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds – are used, among other things, to protect paper straws from soaking.
“Straws made of plant-based materials such as paper and bamboo are often advertised as more sustainable and environmentally friendly than those made of plastic,” Thimo Groffen said. “This, however, is not necessarily true due to the presence of PFAS in straws.”
Paper cups to replace disposable plastic cups have been tested by a research team at the University of Gothenburg. As paper is not grease and water resistant, it needs a surface coating when used as a food packaging material.
In the study, presented in the journal Environmental Pollution, Bethanie Carney Almroth’s team placed mosquito larvae in water and sediment with cups and lid pieces made of polypropylene or polystyrene, or polylactide and paper, for one to four weeks.
“Each cup had a negative effect on the growth of mosquito larvae”, Carney Almroth said.
Related news
Young Hungarians cook at home – fast food is not trendy
The majority of Hungarian young people rarely or never go…
Read more >Hamburger picture 2025 – this is how Hungarians eat hamburgers
Hungary’s undisputed favourite is the beef burger – preferably loaded…
Read more >Corvinus research: Women lead more sustainable economies
Agricultural enterprises run by women are more resource-optimized and eco-efficient,…
Read more >Related news
An era ends, a new one begins – marketing leadership change at Eisberg
After two years, Judit Gál, the company’s marketing and communications…
Read more >A new era in the global economy? – New challenges for our country
May 2025 brought an acceleration of change in the global…
Read more >This is how you can keep your hair and skin healthy during the approaching summer heatwave
Styling, dyeing and blow-drying can all weaken the internal structure…
Read more >