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September 5th, 2023
Research out of Europe has discovered that 90% of so-called “eco-friendly” paper straws contain “forever chemicals,” poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), that don’t break down in the environment or in our bodies and can lead to a wide variety of health problems. The findings are consistent with those from a 2021 US study that reached similar conclusions.
Humans are mainly exposed to PFAS through food and drinking water, along with food packaging materials and plastic bags. The US study found that PFAS was present in plant-based drinking straws, and now researchers from the University of Antwerp in Belgium have confirmed the same phenomenon in Europe.
European researchers tested 39 different brands of straws made from paper, glass, bamboo, stainless steel, and plastic, and analyzed them for 29 different PFAS compounds. Sixty-nine percent of brands tested contained PFAS, with 18 different PFAS detected in total. Paper straws were at the top of the list with forever chemicals detected in 90% of the brands tested. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical linked to high cholesterol, decreased immune response, thyroid disease and kidney and testicular cancer, was most frequently detected despite having been banned globally since 2020. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS), ultra-short-chain PFAS that are highly water-soluble and more prone to leaching out of straws and into drinks were also found. PFAS were also found in 80% of bamboo straw, 75% of plastic straws and 40% of glass brands tested. PFAS were not detected in any of the steel straws tested.
While individual concentrations were relatively low and, PFAS bioaccumulate, meaning they build up over time in the body because they are absorbed but not excreted. Every little bit adds to one’s overall chemical load. Researchers suggest the safest path was to use stainless steel straws, or simply abandon straws altogether.
