Chemist warned about the dangers of disposable cups with hot drinks
Disposable paper cups with laminated coating should not be used on a permanent basis — they can release microparticles of plastic upon contact with hot drinks. Nikolay Vasiliev, Head of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Chemistry at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the State University of Education, told Izvestia about this on July 16.
According to Vasiliev, various types of polymers are used in the production of paper cups, including high-pressure polyethylene, polylactide and polypropylene. These materials provide protection from moisture and add strength, but with constant use, such products can carry risks.
"In principle, these polymers are non-toxic and are allowed to come into contact with food. Nevertheless, it is better not to use these cups on an ongoing basis. Some of these polymers can enter the body, and this is undesirable. The size of such particles ranges from 56 to 126 micrometers, and they can migrate in the body," the expert explained.
The chemist also clarified that the reuse of such cups is unacceptable, since the material is practically not amenable to high-quality cleaning. In addition, he recommended using reusable mugs made of inert materials.
"It is best to use inert materials for hot drinks. Many reusable thermocups are made in the following variants: ceramics, glass, stainless metal, but not cheap plastic. The use of such mugs will save you from unnecessary risks!" added Vasiliev.
Toxicologist Mikhail Kutushov warned on April 18 that drinking from plastic bottles can be dangerous to health, as chemicals, many of which are toxic, can migrate from plastic into water, especially during prolonged storage. Kutushov added that prolonged contact with water or heating begins to release antimony, which in high concentrations can cause irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
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