Since January 1, 2021, the sale and provision of plastic straws is prohibited and these have gradually been replaced by paper straws, considered more “ecological”. However, these paper straws could turn out to be more toxic than they seem, both for health and for the environment.
‘Eternal chemicals’ in 90% of paper straws
A team of researchers from the University of Antwerp (Belgium) tested 39 different brands of straws made from five materials: paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic. The target of their research: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), of the chemical products present in a large number of food packaging and intended in particular to make them more resistant to water.
Placed under surveillance by ANSES, PFAS are called “eternal chemicals” because they are very poorly degradable once in the environment. However, while researchers found PFAS in 75% (3 out of 4) of plastic straw brands, they also found it in 90% of brands of paper straws (18 out of 20) and in 80% of bamboo straw brands (4 out of 5).
18 types of PFAS found
The most commonly found PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been banned globally since 2020. A total of 18 different substances have been found.
“Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often touted as being more durable and environmentally friendly than those made from plastic,” says Dr Thimo Groffen, one of the study authors. “However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that this is not necessarily true.”
The alternative: stainless steel straws
The authors acknowledge that the levels of PFAS in the straws were low and that they probably pose a limited risk to human health given that they are used only occasionally. But once in the body, these endocrine disruptors do not disappear (just as they persist eternally in the environment) and they can accumulate.
“We did not detect any PFAS in the stainless steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw, or simply not to use straws at all.”
Source : Assessment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in commercially available drinking straws using targeted and suspect screening approachesFood additives and Contaminants, August 2023