Switching to paper straws to save the environment? They are more toxic for you

That is sad news for all eco-soldiers. Think again if you thought you were saving the world using paper straws. A study shows they could be worse than plastic.

Paper straws are not the last straw that could save the world from plastic. A study published in the Food Additives & Contaminants journal suggests that paper straws are toxic to the environment. A Belgian team conducted the research and stated that these “green” utensils are much worse than their vilified counterparts.

Thimo Groffen, an environmental scientist with a PhD and study author, said, "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.”

“However, the presence of PFAS [poly- and perfluoroalkyl-based substances known as “forever chemicals” because they last for a long time before breaking down] in these straws means that’s not necessarily true,” added the scientist, who works at the University of Antwerp.

Earlier, US cities like New York and restaurant chains had led initiatives to ban plastic straws made of polypropylene and polystyrene. These straws take hundreds of years to degrade and can lead to health problems like birth defects.

In 2018, the City Council proposed prohibiting restaurants and bars from using plastic sippers. The then-mayor, Bill de Blasio, supported this, saying, “Their time has come and gone. Let's get rid of plastic straws.”

While many countries, like the UK and Belgium, have moved on to the supposedly 'eco-friendly' alternatives, the research alleges that 90% of paper straws contain more PFAS than plastic ones.

For research purposes, 39 brands of drinking straws are made up of paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic.

While bamboo straws contained 80% PFA, plastic straws contained 75%, glass straws 40%, and steel straws, luckily none.

“The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows they are not necessarily biodegradable,” added Groffen.

He stated that there was only one genuine alternative to any harmful straws: steel straws.

"We did not detect any PFAS in stainless-steel straws, so I would advise consumers to use this type of straw — or just avoid using straws at all,” advised the researcher.