AUTHOR
Ved Prakash Ranjan, Environmental Engineering and Management, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721 302, West Bengal, India
Anuja Joseph, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721 302, West Bengal, India
Sudha Goel, Environmental Engineering and Management, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721 302, West Bengal, India, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721 302, West Bengal, India
HIGHLIGHTS
- Exposure of the paper cups to hot water triggered the release of microplastics.
- Ions were added into the water through the hydrophobic liners of the paper cups.
- The analysis of the liners indicates the presence of heavy metals in them.
- Surface properties of the liners deteriorated after exposure to hot water.
- 4 out of 5 disposable paper cups were lined with HDPE grade of plastic.
ABSTRACT
Disposable paper cups are popular for consuming beverages. These paper cups have an interior that is laminated with a hydrophobic film made of mostly plastic (polyethylene) and sometimes of copolymers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degradation of these films as a result of exposure to hot water (85–90 °C). Due to deterioration of the films, ions like fluoride, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate were released into the water contained in the paper cups. Microplastic particles leaching into the liquid were identified and quantified. Fluorescence microscopy indicated the release of approximately 25,000 micron-sized microplastic particles into one cup of hot water in 15 min (100 ml) while scanning electron micrographs indicate 102 + 21.1 × 106 sub-micron-sized particles/ml into the same volume of liquid. Toxic heavy metals like Pb, Cr, and Cd were detected in the films which can be transferred into hot water. Elemental analysis shows a decrease in the percentage of elements like C, H, and N (by weight) due to exposure to hot water. Ingestion of microplastics, ions, and heavy metals regularly while consuming our daily dose of hot beverages like tea and coffee can expose us to potential health risks in the future.
