No cheer from tea or coffee in paper cups

 Globally, some 264 billion paper cups were produced in 2019 for consuming food and beverages such as tea, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, and soups, according to the Imarc Group, an international market research company.

According to Imarc, consumers use paper cups because of hectic lifestyles and busy schedules, with the demand spurred by the rising trend of takeaway services and ready-to-eat food across the globe. Paper cups also do not require cleaning and can be easily discarded after use.
But the IIT researchers say there is a price to be paid for the convenience. “Microplastics act as carriers for contaminants like ions, toxic heavy metals such as palladium, chromium and cadmium, as well as organic compounds that are hydrophobic (water repelling) and can cross over into the animal kingdom,” says Sudha. “When ingested regularly over time, the health implications could be serious.”
Sudha’s team poured ultra-pure (MilliQ) water at 85—90 degrees Celsius into paper cups and allowed it to sit for 15 minutes before analysing it under a fluorescence microscope for microplastics. The plastic linings were separately examined for changes in physical, chemical and mechanical properties.