Nonbiodegradable toxic chemicals have been found in paper straws, making them potentially more harmful to the environment and human health than their plastic counterparts, according to a new study.
Belgian researchers found the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS chemicals, otherwise known as "forever chemicals," in the "eco-friendly" straws, which were most prominent in those made from paper and bamboo.
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“Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” Dr. Thimo Groffen, study author and University of Antwerp environmental scientist, said. “However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that’s not necessarily true.”
PFAS are synthetic chemicals created as product coatings that are nonstick, oil- and water-repellent, and heat-resistant. They are colorless, odorless, and tasteless and can be found in adhesives, cookware, and food package lining such as pizza boxes.
They have also been linked to a variety of health problems such as obesity, reproduction, liver damage, and testicular cancer, and can build up in the human body as well as take thousands of years to break down in the environment.
Testing for 18 different PFAS, of which there are thousands, the study published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants found them in 69% of straws. Paper had the highest rate at 90%, followed by bamboo at 80%, plastic at 75%, and glass at 40%.
Many cities have bans on plastic straws, including Washington, D.C., New York, Charleston, South Carolina, and many more across California and Florida. The bans were put in place on the premise they would help protect the environment.
"As we continue on the path to becoming the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city in the nation, it’s time to tackle straws," D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in 2018 announcing the ban that took effect the following year.
However, this study shows that contaminants exist at a higher rate in paper and bamboo straws than in plastic.
It is not known whether the chemicals were added to the products for waterproofing or contaminated the product through a source such as water used to manufacture the straws.
Researchers suggest that it is likely in some cases that they were added to the products.
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The study comes as a growing number of regulators are trying to restrict the proliferation of the chemicals. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study found that the chemicals exist in nearly half of all U.S. tap water.
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a new rule that would require municipal water treatment facilities to test for and filter out certain kinds of PFAS.