Paper straws contain potentially toxic chemicals and are just as harmful to the environment as regular plastic versions, a new study has found.
People may actually be worse off using “eco-friendly” paper straws as they also pose a risk to humans and wildlife due to the long-lasting and toxic chemicals they contain, the study concluded.
In the first analysis of its kind in Europe, Belgian researchers tested 39 brands of straws for the group of synthetic chemicals known as poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS, which are destructive to human health over time, were discovered in the majority of paper and bamboo straws tested.
The straws are considered “eco-friendly” compared to their plastic counterparts.
In countries around the world and many parts of the U.S., single-use plastic straws are banned.
The groundbreaking European study analyzed straws made from a range of materials from shops and fast-food restaurants and found 18 out of 20 brands of paper straws contained PFAS.
The study found a lower frequency of PFAS detection in plastic and glass straws.
The research did not look at whether PFAS leaked out of the straws into the liquids, however.
The most commonly found PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has