The European ambition to abandon single-use plastics transformed the straw format; Paper ones, bamboo ones, steel ones and glass ones appeared. The first two –made with material of plant origin– were the most popular, but these “may be harmful to health and no better for the environment than plastic versions”, according to a pioneering study in Europe, and second in the world, published in Food Additives and Contaminants magazine.
The claim is made by the Taylor and Francisco Group, which has tested straws from 39 different brands for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). And while these chemicals are commonly used in a multitude of products due to their waterproof, heat-resistant, and stain-resistant properties—for example, in nonstick pans—they have toxic potential for humans, animals, and the environment.
Nicknamed “eternal chemicals”, PFAS persist for long periods of time in the environment – ??the figures reach thousands of years – and have also been associated with a series of health problems: a reduced response to vaccines , lower birth weight, thyroid diseases, increased cholesterol, liver damage and some types of cancer (kidney and testicles).
“Straws made from plant materials (paper and bamboo) are often advertised as being more sustainable than those made from plastic, however the presence of PFAS in these straws means that this is not necessarily true,” introduces researcher Thimo Groffen, environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp who participated in this study.
The group found that PFAS are present in 69% of straw brands, with paper straws most likely to contain them (90%), followed by bamboo (80%) and plastic (75%).
Outside this triple podium are those made of glass, with a probability of 40%, and those made of stainless steel, which were the only ones in which PFAS were not detected. Consequently, the study defends the latter as the most responsible option: they are reusable, recyclable and do not contain these toxins.
In total, 18 different types of PFAS were detected in the straws tested; the one that appeared most frequently was perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been banned worldwide since 2020. Others that are highly soluble in water and that could leach from straws into drinks, although the study establishes as one of its limitations not having analyzed whether, indeed, the PFAS would transfer from the straws to the liquids.
Groffen cautions that while these substances in small amounts are not harmful in and of themselves, they can add to a burden already present in the body. “I would recommend to consumers that they use this type of straw, or simply that they avoid using straws,” concludes the researcher.
