Commonly marketed as environmentally conscious alternatives to plastic straws, drinking straws made from materials such as paper and bamboo have been identified as carriers of potentially harmful substances, thereby challenging their eco-friendly reputation.

A recent study has unearthed the presence of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals,’ within these ostensibly sustainable straws. PFAS is a broad class of over 4,000 synthetic chemicals renowned for their water- and fat-repellent attributes, extensively used in a range of products including non-stick cookware and fast-food packaging.

These PFAS chemicals have a long-lasting environmental footprint, persisting for thousands of years, and exposure to certain concentrations has been associated with adverse health effects in both human and animal populations.

Conducted by researchers in Belgium, the study evaluated commercially available straws of various compositions, detecting PFAS concentrations in 39 distinct brands. While traces of PFAS were detected in plastic and glass straws, they were found at a more prevalent rate in almost all of the paper and bamboo straws tested.

The most commonly detected PFAS compound was perfluorooctanoic acid, banned for manufacturing in the European Union since 2020 due to safety concerns. Nevertheless, it still exists in the environment due to the persistence of old or recycled products containing it.

The presence of PFAS in plant-based straws could be attributed to factors such as inadvertent contamination from plants cultivated in PFAS-polluted soil and the utilization of recycled paper containing PFAS during straw production.

Detecting the ‘forever chemicals’ The scientists employed two methodologies to identify PFAS within the straws. Initially, they quantified the presence of 29 prevalent PFAS types using a sensitive technique called liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, detecting 16 of these target PFAS at detectable levels.

Subsequently, a screening approach revealed two additional PFAS compounds – trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS) – in various straw types. TFA was found in paper-based straws, and TFMS was detected in both paper and bamboo straws.

TFA’s appearance in straws was likely attributed to the breakdown of halogenated hydrocarbons, commonly used as industrial solvents. The origin of TFMS in straws remains uncertain, but it’s associated with sites where firefighting foams containing these chemicals have been employed.

Should we be concerned? Direct exposure to PFAS through leaching into beverages and indirect exposure through contaminated soil, water, plants, and recycled materials raise alarm bells. The health risks associated with PFAS exposure encompass human health, wildlife, and the environment.

Evidence suggests that pregnant women exposed to PFAS might face reduced fertility and elevated blood pressure, potentially leading to developmental issues in their offspring, including low birth weight, early puberty, and increased cancer risk.

Moreover, PFAS exposure has been linked to compromised immune function and its potential exacerbation of COVID-19 infection severity, as per a Danish study in 2020. Birds have shown reduced reproductive ability due to PFAS, and other animal species have suffered from tumors, immune system disruption, and kidney function impairment due to PFAS exposure.

An example from 2022 revealed that all 75 tested American alligators from the Cape Fear river in North Carolina had PFAS in their blood serum, resulting in immune dysfunction and autoimmune-like diseases.

PFAS contamination has become pervasive in the environment, making human and wildlife exposure almost unavoidable through various routes like inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact.

Though stainless steel straws might reduce PFAS exposure risk, they aren’t devoid of potential hazards, such as heavy metals like chromium and nickel, linked to severe health problems affecting vital organs.

For now, one of the most effective measures is to minimize straw usage whenever possible.”