When thinking about the pollution of marine ecosystems, the image of turtles and other animals skewered with plastic straws may come to mind. It is clear that these are a dangerous option, which is why the European Union was right to ban these and other plastic products in 2021. Since then, we have been trying other options, some with more success than others. The paper straws They are the most used, especially in bars and cafes. However, they have some drawbacks. One of them has already been observed by anyone who has drunk with them. But others, which could be more dangerous, were discovered last summer by a team of scientists from the University of Antwerp.
That drawback we’ve all seen with paper straws is their short durability. If you don’t finish your drink quickly, you’ll see how the straw quickly turns into an unpleasant gelatinous mess. It’s okay for it to degrade, but not necessarily in your glass. As for the second drawback, it is even worse, since it has been seen that they contain something colloquially known as chemicals forever.
One of the most common substances of this type are those that contain poly and perfluoroalkyls (PFAS). Paper straws contain low amounts of these substances, it is true. This may not make them dangerous for us as consumers. However, for the environmentfor whose protection we supposedly use this type of straws, they can indeed be a problem.
Paper straws are not a panacea
The authors of this study They decided to analyze the levels of PFAS on paper straws and other materials after another American team sound the alarm in 2021. What they found could have been something specific, so these other scientists decided to carry out an even more complete investigation. And the results were not at all reassuring.
They analyzed the levels of PFAS in 39 brands of straws of different materials, including plastic, paper, bamboo, glass and stainless steel. The latter were the only ones that turned out to be clean of PFAS. Both paper straws, bamboo, glass and, of course, plastic straws contained these chemicals forever.
It is not clear why they contain it. The authors of the research believe that, since paper and bamboo They are not waterproof, PFAS can be added to make them more resistant to water. Or they may be made with recycled materials that already contain those PFAS. That could be the case with glass. To know for sure, you would have to ask the manufacturers, but that is another part of the research that does not depend only on its authors.
Why is it so dangerous?
As its colloquial name suggests, PFAS are “forever.” They do not degrade easily from the environment. No matter how much the plant-based base of the straw, such as paper or bamboo, degrades, these substances they accumulate, both in the environment and in the organisms of animals. That includes us as consumers and the species that may come across the straws when they are discarded.
The levels found are very low, so in principle there should be no panic regarding direct consumption. Especially if we don’t drink from paper straws every day. But at an environmental level it is a problem that should be addressed. Furthermore, it is known that can biomagnify through trophic levels. This means that their concentration increases as they advance in the food chain of animals in marine ecosystems. In this way, they can reach humans again, so if we don’t do it for the planet, we should at least be careful for ourselves.
The ideal would be to review their manufacturing to prevent them from containing these substances. But in the meantime, all we have to do is resort to alternatives.
The best alternative
The only straws in which the authors of this study did not find PFAS are those from stainless steel. Therefore, they are presented as the best alternative.
Now, if we choose to use them at home, we must also get a cleaning brush, since 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 run.
In any case, the best option will always be the same: don’t use straw. Unless there is a problem that prevents drinking properly, paper straws or any other material are used almost more as decoration. To take care of the environment, and even ourselves, the best option will always be to drink without them. This way we all get healthy.