There is a hidden danger in everyday coffee… one plastic cup swallows 3.63 lakh microplastic particles in a year, a big revelation in research

Melbourne: A new study claims that plastic or plastic-lined coffee cups coming in contact with hot drinks can release large numbers of microplastic particles, which leach directly into the drink. According to research published in the ‘Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics’, temperature is the most important factor in the emission of microplastics and the material of the cup plays a decisive role in this. As the temperature of the beverage increases, the rate of release of particulates from the plastic also increases.

The study found that around 1.45 billion single-use hot beverage cups are used each year in Australia, compared to around 500 billion per year globally. This number may also be higher. The potential health risks due to such widespread use may also be widespread.

The researchers previously analyzed 30 studies that examined the behavior of common plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. It was found that the emission of microplastics in contact with hot liquid can range from a few hundred particles to millions of particles per liter. However, the length of time the drink was kept in the cup was not found to be as important a factor as its temperature. The researchers then collected 400 coffee cups of two types from the Brisbane area and tested them. These included cups made entirely of plastic and paper cups with a thin plastic layer inside. These were tested with cold (5 °C) and hot (60 °C) drinks.

According to the results, both types of cups released microplastics, but cups made entirely of plastic released more particles than paper cups. In the case of hot drinks, microplastic emissions were found to be about 33 percent higher than that of cold drinks. The study estimates that if a person drinks 300 ml of hot coffee in a polyethylene cup every day, he can ingest about 3.63 lakh microplastic particles in a year.

According to the researchers, the inner surface of the plastic cup is rough, due to which the particles easily break and separate. Due to heat, plastic softens and the process of expansion and contraction of its particles accelerates, due to which the emission of microplastics increases.

However, the study also notes that consumers do not need to give up their coffee habit completely. To reduce risk, reusable cups made of stainless steel, ceramic or glass are better choices. If using disposable cups is necessary, plastic-lined paper cups release relatively less microplastics.

Additionally, researchers recommend avoiding pouring extremely hot or boiling liquids directly into plastic or plastic-lined cups, as slightly lowering the temperature can reduce microplastic emissions.