Takeaway cups may be releasing microplastics into your coffee

Single-use paper cups commonly used for hot beverages like coffee and tea may be releasing microplastic particles into these drinks, according to researchers from the University of Queensland. Both paper cups lined with fossil-based polyethylene (PE) plastic and those with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) lining were tested by the team.

While both types of cups released plastic particles, the PLA-lined cups released significantly more particles—approximately 12 times as many as the PE-lined cups. The PLA-lined cups released around 4.3 million nanoparticles of plastic per milliliter of liquid, while the PE-lined cups released about 2.7 million particles per milliliter.

The researchers note that the exact health impacts of ingesting these microscopic plastic particles are still unclear, but the chemicals in plastics are not intended for consumption. The study highlights a gap in our understanding of the potential risks posed by plastic particles released from everyday food-contact items. The researchers suggest that consumers should be informed about the materials used to line their paper cups and that regulatory bodies should consider implementing safety guidelines and product labeling to address this issue.