25 August 2023 , 09:06
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A new study has found that paper straws contain harmful “forever chemicals” that could be toxic to people and the environment.
The so-called "eco-friendly" paper drinking straws have become popular in many countries, including the UK, after governments banned the sale of single use plastic drinking straws for environmental reasons.
But now Belgian researchers have revealed they found poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 18 out of 20 brands of paper straws they tested. The PFAS chemicals, which are long-lasting and potentially damaging to human health over time, were in the majority of straws tested by researchers and were most common in those made from paper and bamboo.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food Additives and Contaminants, saw researchers test 39 brands of drinking straw made from paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic.
A whopping 69% of the straws, which are sold in shops, supermarkets and fast-food restaurants, contained PFAS, with 18 different PFAS detected in total. And paper straws were the most likely to contain the toxic substances, with the chemicals detected in 90% of the brands tested. Four out of five brands of bamboo straw tested also contained PFAS, three out of four of the plastic straw brands, and two out of five of the glass straws. None were found in steel straws.
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Researchers concluded that it is likely PFAS is, in some cases, being used as a water-repellent coating on paper straws. The study did not look at whether the PFAS would leach out of the straws into liquids. The most commonly found PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been banned globally since 2020. Also detected were trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS), "ultra-short chain" PFAS which are highly water soluble and so might leach out of straws into drinks, according to the report.
The risk to human health was limited, the researchers said, considering that concentrations of the chemicals were low and that most people tend to only use straws occasionally. However their long-lasting nature meant the harmful substances could build up over time in the body over many years, researchers warned.
PFAS are used to make everyday products, from outdoor clothing to non-stick pans, resistant to water, heat and stains. They break down very slowly over time and can persist over thousands of years in the environment, a property that has led to them being known as "forever chemicals". They have been associated with a number of health problems, including lower response to vaccines, lower birth weight, thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer and testicular cancer.
Dr Groffen said: "Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body. We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw - or just avoid using straws at all. 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."