Paper straws are said to be as harmful as plastic ones due to synthetic chemical compounds, called PFAS, which are neither good for the environment nor for the health of human beings.
- Paper straws are just as harmful as plastic ones.
- The reason is that they also contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) which are synthetic chemical compounds.
- Also, these straws are not “necessarily biodegradable.”
Since January 1, 2021, single-use plastic straws are prohibited in France, with the exception of those intended to be used for medical purposes, according to the law of 10 February 2020 on the fight against waste and the circular economy. But the straws have not disappeared from bars and restaurants, the plastic ones have been replaced by paper straws, which are supposed to be more ecological. A study published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants challenges this aspect. Scientists believe that they would be just as harmful to the environment.
PFAS: paper straws are dangerous to health
“Straws made from natural materials, such as paper or bamboo, are often touted as being more durable and eco-friendly than plastic ones, explains the environmental scientist, explains Thimo Groffenfrom the University of Antwerp in Belgium, author of this study. However, the presence of PFAS [les composés perfluoroalkylés et polyfluoroalkylés (PFAS) qui sont des composants chimiques synthétiques] in these straws shows that this is not necessarily the case.”
After analyzing thirty-nine different brands, the researchers found that the paper straws contained significant amounts of toxic and chemical substances. According to the National Food Safety Agency (Anses), “the toxicity of these chemical compounds [des PFAS] is multiple: they cause an increase in cholesterol levels, can lead to cancer, cause effects on fertility and fetal development. They are also suspected of interfering with the endocrine (thyroid) and immune system (…) [avec une] decreased immune system response to vaccination [qui est] the most critical effect on human health.”
Paper straws are not “biodegradable“because of the chemical compounds
Of the brands tested, 90% of paper straws contained these chemicals, compared to 75% for plastic ones and 40% for glass ones. Only the steel straws had no trace of PFAS. Obviously, if these substances are dangerous for our health, they are just as dangerous for the environment. Still according to ANSES, certain stable chemical bonds in PFAS make them chemical compounds that are not very degradable once in the environment. “More [ces substances chimiques] contain carbon and the more persistent they are in the environment. One of the best-known subfamilies is PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), the latter being the most persistent in the environment.” “The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows that they are not necessarily biodegradable”, adds Thimo Groffen.
