Mallika Dureja
Are you a coffee enthusiast who begins and concludes each day with a hot cup of coffee? While it is acceptable to consume your favourite hot beverage from a ceramic, glass, or metal cup, many people prefer to use readily available disposable paper containers. Although these cups are better for the environment than plastic cups, they are just as hazardous because their interiors are coated with plastic. According to research, exposure to hot liquid for just 15 minutes can cause plastic-coated disposable paper cups to release thousands of tiny plastic particles in addition to other harmful substances into the liquid, and a person who consumes three cups of tea or coffee from a paper cup would consume a staggering 75,000 microplastic particles.
Perils of plastic
Plastics are essentially omnipresent. You can simply observe your surroundings and determine how frequently you use various plastic items. There have been periodic warnings about the possibility of microplastics entering the human body. Countries are prohibiting single-use plastics for good reason. All of this, however, has had little effect. Concerns have also been expressed regarding the use of paper cups for hot beverages such as tea, coffee, and soup.
Dangers of paper cups
“Perhaps these containers are healthier for the environment than plastic, but are they healthier FOR YOU?! Being healthy is a conundrum, isn’t it? Consuming scalding tea or coffee from a disposable paper cup can increase the risk of infertility, gastrointestinal issues, and cancer. The interior of your paper takeout cup is coated with plastic, which leaches harmful chemicals into your heated beverage “Recent Instagram post by Tim Gray, Health Optimizing Biohacker, Psychology Specialist.
Gray cites a study conducted at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur in which researchers poured hot water into paper containers to observe the results.
“They discovered that 15 minutes of exposure to hot liquid causes plastic-coated disposable paper cups to discharge 25,000 microscopic plastic particles, harmful ions, and heavy metals into the liquid. In the water samples, they discovered ions such as fluoride, chloride, nitrate, and sulphate, as well as toxic heavy metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic “explains Gray.
According to Gray, an individual who consumes three regular cups of tea or coffee per day from a paper cup would consume 75,000 microplastic particles.
“Consuming microplastics and heavy metals in addition to your daily dose of takeout coffee can place you at risk for hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, gut issues, cancer, and neurological problems,” explains Gray about the dangers of drinking coffee from disposable cups.
Safe to consume cold beverages from paper containers
The expert adds, however, that the study found no plastic particles in paper cups containing water at room temperature, so consuming cold beverages from paper cups is acceptable, but not hot beverages.
Safe method to consume your coffee
“Invest in a silicone or glass cup that is reusable to avoid ingesting excessive amounts of microplastics with your takeout hot beverages. It’s much healthier for your health and the environment “he adds.
