Biodegradable paper straws: a scientific study questions their safety
A European directive has banned the use of plastic in disposable dishes and straws, but the result could be dangerous for humans and the environment.
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present in many food contact materials (FCMs) and reusable plastics in the food industry. It is possible for PFASs to lend from tableware to human meals and cause various health problems.
A new studylooked at PFAS concentrations in 39 different brands of straws made from five different materials. PFAS were found in most of the straws tested and were most common in those made from paper and bamboo.
Dr Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist from the University of Antwerp involved in this study, said: 'Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as more sustainable and eco-friendly than plastic ones. ”
“However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that this is not necessarily true.”
The straws underwent two rounds of PFAS testing after being largely purchased from shops, supermarkets and fast-food restaurants.
27 of 39, or 69%, of the brands tested included PFAS, and 18 distinct PFAS were found.
What are the dangers of PFAS and where does it come from
The most likely source of PFAS was paper straws, where the chemicals were found in 18 of 20 (90%) of the brands tested. PFAS were also found in 3 of 4 (75%) of plastic straw brands, 2 of 5 (40%) of glass straw brands, and 4 of 5 (80%) of bamboo straw brands . They were not found in any of the five different varieties of steel straws tested.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the most widely used PFAS, has been banned worldwide since 2020.
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS), “ultra-short chain” PFASs that could migrate from straws to beverages, have also been found in straws.
Given that most people use straws only occasionally, the amounts of PFAS were modest and of little impact on human health. However, PFAS concentrations can persist in the body for many years and increase over time.
Dr Groffen said: "Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already in the body."
PFAS , or perflorochemicals, PCF, are extremely dangerous substances, defined as "eternal chemical products" because they are difficult to process naturally in the environment. In the human body, even at low concentrations, they are dangerous because they can help the development of some tumours, cause diseases of the thymus and the reproductive system to develop, cause disturbances to the immune system and negatively affect pregnancy.
It is not known whether the PFASs were caused by contamination or added to straws by manufacturers as a waterproofing agent. The water used during production and the soil in plant-derived components are potential sources of contamination.
The scientists note that it's possible the compounds were occasionally used as a water-repellent coating since they're found in virtually every brand of paper straw.
Dr Groffen concludes: “The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws demonstrates that they are not necessarily biodegradable.”
“We have not detected any PFAS in stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use these types of straws – or simply avoid using them.”
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The article Biodegradable Paper Straws: A Scientific Study Questions Their Safety comes from Scenari Economici .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/cannucce-di-carta-biodegradabili-uno-studio-scientifico-ne-mette-in-dubbio-la-sicurezza/ on Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:05:36 +0000.