The ‘ecological’ alternative to plastic ones includes PFAS substances, harmful to health
Experts recommend stainless steel ones, or completely dispense with straws
The ‘ecological’ paper straws They are presented as the ideal substitute for plastic ones, since they maintain their same function, but generate much easier waste to recycle. However, a scientific study that has just been made public reveals that these paper tubes contain potentially toxic chemicals (the known PFAS), also called ‘eternal chemicals’ because of their long duration in the environment. Everything indicates that these substances come from the waterproofing coating of these elements.
In the first analysis of its kind carried out in Europe (the second in the world), Belgian researchers tested 39 brands of straws for the presence of synthetic chemicals known as poly and perfluorinated substances (PFAS).
Following their investigation, they discovered PFAS in most of the straws tested, but turned out to be more common in those made of paper and bamboo, according to the study, published in Food Additives & Contaminants.
The PFAS plague
PFAS are used to make everyday products, from waterproof clothing to non-stick pans and canned goods. However, they are potentially harmful to people, wildlife, and the environment. They break down very slowly over time and can persist for thousands of years in the environment, a property that has led to their being known as ‘eternal chemicals’.
They have been associated with a number of health problems, including a reduced response to vaccines, lower birth weight, thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer, and testicular cancer.
“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,” says Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp, who was involved in this study. “However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that this is not necessarily true.”
An increasing number of countries, including the UK and Belgium, have banned the sale of single-use plastic products, including drinking straws, and plant-based versions have become popular alternatives.
A recent study already found PFAS in plant-based drinking straws in the US. Professor Groffen and his colleagues wanted to know if the same thing happened with those sold in Belgium. To find out, the research team purchased 39 different brands of straws made from five materials: paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic.
The straws, which were obtained primarily from convenience stores, supermarkets, and fast-food restaurants, were then subjected to two rounds of testing for PFAS. Most brands (27 of 39, 69%) contained PFAS, with 18 different PFASs detected in total.
The paper ones, the ones that contain the most PFAS
Paper straws were more likely to contain PFAS, and indeed these chemical compounds were detected in 18 of 20 (90%) of the brands analyzed. PFAS were also detected in 4 of 5 (80%) bamboo straw brands, 3 of 4 (75%) plastic straw brands, and 2 of 5 (40%) glass straw brands. In contrast, they were not detected in any of the five types of steel straws tested.
The most commonly encountered PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been banned worldwide since 2020.
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS), ‘ultra-short-chain’ PFASs that are highly soluble in water and therefore could leach from straws into beverages, were also detected.
PFAS concentrations were low and considering that most people tend to use straws only occasionally, they pose limited risk to human health. However, PFAS can remain in the body for many years, and their concentrations can increase over time.
“Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in and of themselves, can add to the chemical load already in the body,” Groffen says.
Coating to waterproof them
Scientists don’t know if the manufacturers added PFAS to the straws to make them waterproof or if they are the result of contamination. Potential sources of contamination also include the soil in which the plant materials were grown and the water used in the manufacturing process.
However, the presence of chemicals in almost all brands of paper straws means that it is likely that in some cases they were used as a water repellent coatingsay the researchers.
The study stopped short of looking at whether PFAS would leach from straws into liquids.
Groffen concludes: “The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws demonstrates that they are not necessarily biodegradable. We did not detect any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use these types of straws, or just avoid the use of straws altogether”.
Reference study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19440049.2023.2240908
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Contact of the Environment section: [email protected]