Are Paper Cups as Toxic as Plastic Cups? – Study Finds

Introduction

A recent study found that paper cups, which are considered environmentally friendly, may be just as toxic as plastic cups.

Findings of the Study

Scientists in Sweden have discovered a thin layer of plastic applied to the surface of disposable paper cups to prevent their contents from leaking onto the paper, releasing toxic substances.

The news comes just weeks after similar results were reported by researchers in Belgium, who found that paper straws contained high concentrations of a group of toxic synthetic chemicals.

Now Swedish scientists are calling for “transparency requirements in the plastics industry” in hopes of ensuring “clear reporting of the chemicals contained in all products, as is done in the pharmaceutical industry.”

Treatment of Paper Used in Food Packaging

Because paper easily absorbs water, other liquids, oils and fats from all types of food and beverages, manufacturers treat paper used in food packaging with a durable plastic surface layer, which is often a type of renewable, biodegradable bioplastic called polylactide.

Although PLA degrades faster than more common petroleum-based plastics, researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden were able to show that the chemicals in the plastic can harm fly larvae.

“We left paper and plastic cups in wet sediment and water for several weeks and monitored how the leached chemicals affected the larvae,” ecotoxicologist Bethany Carne Almroth, a professor of environmental science at the University of Gothenburg, said in a statement. “All cups had a negative effect on the development of mosquito larvae.”

Scientists report that these chemicals can cause endocrine disruption, which can affect sexual reproduction, growth, and other body functions.

In her statement, Almroth stressed that paper packaging poses a “potential health risk” due to its plastic content and has “become more common.”

Conclusion

The study was published in the journal Environmental Pollution.

Source: Daily Mail