Paper cups are less healthy and 'eco-friendly' than we think

Two new studies affirm that paper cups and straws, which people use because they believe they are healthier and more environmentally friendly than their plastic predecessors, might not be. These two products continue to contain potentially toxic chemical compounds and can also harm the environment.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg show that paper cups, which end up in nature, can also cause damage as they contain toxic chemicals.

The alarming reports of plastics pollution spreading throughout the Earth and infiltrating every living being have spurred a rapid transition towards alternative materials. As a result, the coffee latte you grab from the nearby kiosk is now often served in paper cups and occasionally accompanied by paper lids.

However, it is important to acknowledge that even these seemingly eco-friendly cups can pose a threat to our delicate ecosystems if they are improperly disposed of and find their way into nature.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Gothenburg sheds light on this issue, demonstrating the detrimental impact of disposable cups, made from various materials, on the larvae of the butterfly mosquito.

Bethanie Carney Almroth, Professor of Environmental Science at the Department of Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Gothenburg, says, "We placed paper cups and plastic cups in wet sediment and water for a few weeks and observed how the leached chemicals affected the larvae. All of the mugs had a negative impact on the growth of mosquito larvae."

A thin plastic film lines paper cups

Paper used in food packaging needs to be coated to make it fat and water resistant. The plastic coating on the coffee cup protects the coffee from the paper. Nowadays, people often make the plastic film of polylactide (PLA), a type of bioplastic.

We treat containers, wrappers, plates, and glasses made of paper with an insulating layer of sustainable bioplastic called PLA. This material degrades faster than petroleum-derived plastic under appropriate conditions, but degrades more slowly and produces microplastics when left outdoors. Animals and humans can consume these microplastics, making them no different from those generated by traditional plastics.

"Bioplastics does not break down effectively when they end up in the environment, in water. The plastic may remain in nature and animals and humans may ingest the resulting microplastics, just as they do with other plastics. Bioplastics contain at least as many chemicals as conventional plastic," says Bethanie Carney Almroth.

Potential health hazard of food packaging

We know that some chemicals in plastics are toxic, while we lack knowledge about others. Compared to other materials, paper packaging also presents a potential health hazard, and it is becoming more common. Our exposure to the plastics and the associated chemicals occurs through contact with food.

Bethanie Carney Almroth and her research colleagues report their results in a scientific article in Environmental Pollution. In the article, they discuss the major shifts that are required to mitigate the continuing damage to the environment and threat to our health caused by the plastics pollution crisis.

Bethanie Carney Almroth says, "When disposable products arrived on the market after the Second World War, we conducted large campaigns to teach people to throw the products away, which was unnatural to us! Now, we need to shift back and move away from disposable lifestyles. It is better if you bring your own mug when buying take away coffee. Or, by all means, take a few minutes, sit down, and drink your coffee from a porcelain mug."

Binding agreements to reduce plastic use

Right now, work is underway through the UN where the world's countries are negotiating a binding agreement to end the spread of plastics in society and nature. Professor Carney Almroth is a member of a council of scientists, SCEPT -- Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, which contributes scientific evidence to the negotiations. The council calls for a rapid phasing out of unnecessary and problematic plastics, as well as vigilance to avoid replacing one bad product with another.

"We at SCEPT are calling for transparency requirements within the plastics industry that forces a clear reporting of what chemicals all products contain, much like in the pharmaceutical industry. But the main goal of our work is to minimize plastic production," says Bethanie Carney Almroth.

Paper cups are less 'green' than we thought

The plastic may remain in nature and animals and humans may ingest the resulting microplastics, just as they do with other plastics. In this case, the researchers left paper and plastic cups in both wet sediment and water for a few weeks and watched how the chemicals they contained leached out and what effects they had on the insect larvae that lived.

We treat containers, wrappers, plates, and glasses made of paper with an insulating layer of sustainable bioplastic called PLA. This material degrades faster than petroleum-derived plastic under appropriate conditions, but degrades more slowly and produces microplastics when left outdoors. Animals and humans can consume these microplastics, making them no different from those generated by traditional plastics.

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