Paper straws are not the eco-friendly alternative we thought they were.

When you think about pollution marine ecosystems, the image of turtles and other animals strung together with plastic straws may come to mind. It’s clear that this is a dangerous option, which is why the European Union was right to ban these and other plastic products in 2021. We’ve been trying other options since then, some with more success than others. paper straws They are most often used, especially in bars and cafes. However, they do have some disadvantages. Anyone who drank with them had already seen one of them. But others that may be more dangerous were discovered last summer by a team of scientists from University of Antwerp.

The drawback that we have all seen with paper straws is that they short durability. If you don’t finish your drink quickly, you’ll see the straw quickly turn into an unpleasant gelatinous mass. This is fine, but not required in your glass. As for the second defect, it is even worse, since it has been observed that they contain something colloquially called chemistry forever.

Some of the most common substances of this type are those that contain poly and perfluoroalkyl (PFAS). It is true that paper straws contain small amounts of these substances. This may not make them dangerous to us as consumers. However, for him Wednesdaywhich we supposedly use this type of straw to protect, they can actually become a problem.

Paper straws are not a panacea

The authors of this study decided to analyze PFAS levels in paper straws and other materials after another US group raised the alarm in 2021. What they found could be something specific, so these other scientists decided to do an even more comprehensive study. And the results were not at all encouraging.

They analyzed PFAS levels in 39 brands of straws from different materials, including plastic, paper, bamboo, glass and stainless steel. The latter were the only ones found to be free of PFAS. And paper, and bamboo, and glass, and, of course, plastic straws forever contained these chemicals.

It’s unclear why they contain this. The study authors believe that because paper and bamboo They are not waterproofPFAS can be added to make them more resistant to water. Or they can be made with recycled materials that already contain these PFAS. The same can happen with glass. To know for sure, you need to ask the manufacturers, but this is another part of the research, which depends not only on their authors.

Why is this so dangerous?

As its colloquial name suggests, PFAS is “forever.” They do not decompose easily when exposed to the environment. No matter how much the plant base of the straw, such as paper or bamboo, decomposes, these substances they accumulate, both in the environment and in animal organisms. This includes us as consumers and the species that may come across the straw when it is thrown away.

The levels detected are very low, so in principle there should be no panic about direct consumption. Especially if we don’t drink from paper straws every day. But at the environmental level this problem must be solved. Moreover, it is known that they can biomagnify through trophic levels. This means that their concentration increases as they move up the food chain of animals in marine ecosystems. This way they can reach people again, so if we don’t do it for the planet, we should at least take care of ourselves.

The ideal would be to review their production to prevent them from containing these substances. For now, all we have to do is resort to alternatives.

The best alternative

The only straws in which the authors of this study did not detect PFAS were straws made from stainless steel. Therefore, they are presented as a better alternative.

Now, if we decide to use them at home, we also need to purchase a cleaning brush because they are reusable and a lot of bacteria can accumulate inside if we do not clean them thoroughly. It is not enough to let the water flow.

In any case, the best option will always be the same: don’t use straw. If there are no problems that prevent you from drinking properly, paper straws or any other material are used more as decoration. To take care of the environment and even yourself, the best option is always to drink without them. This way we will all become healthy.