Paper Cups May Release Millions of Tiny Plastic Particles

Disposable paper cups may not be as plastic-free as they appear. A new study has found that hot liquids poured into such cups can cause millions of tiny plastic particles to leach into beverages.

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia tested disposable paper cups coated with fossil-fuel-based polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid.

They found that both types of cups released plastic particles. However, cups coated with biodegradable plastic released significantly more particles—about 12 times as many. The researchers detected about 4.3 million nanoparticles per millilitre of liquid from the biodegradable coating, compared with about 2.7 million from polyethylene-coated cups.

The researchers said paper cups are not necessarily free of plastic. Many disposable paper cups are lined with a thin layer of plastic to make them waterproof and more durable.

However, they did not recommend immediately stopping the use of paper cups. They said further research is needed to assess how much of these materials is released when they come into contact with hot beverages.