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Why you should never drink coffee in cardboard cups again, study reveals serious health consequences

2025-12-09 19:20:30Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
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A new IIT study found that hot tea or coffee consumed in paper cups – can release 25,000 microplastic particles into your drink in just 15 minutes.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur is the premier government university for engineering and technological research – founded in 1951.

According to Sudha Goel, Associate Professor at IIT Kharagpur, who led the research, disposable paper cups are a popular choice for consuming beverages.

"Our study has confirmed the contamination of hot liquid served in paper cups – due to the degradation of microplastics and other hazardous components from the cup coating material. Paper cups are usually coated with a thin layer of hydrophobic film which is mainly made of plastic (polyethylene) and sometimes copolymers to keep the liquid in the paper cup.

"Within 15 minutes, this microplastic layer degrades as a result of hot water," she said.

That amounts to over 75,000 particles a day if you drink three glasses!

Doctors warn that these invisible toxins can carry heavy metals that cause cancer, disrupt hormones and damage the nervous system.

Experts advise switching to glass cups for your health and the planet.

"According to the study, 25,000 microplastic particles are released in 100 milliliters of hot liquid (85-90 degrees Celsius) that stand in cardboard cups for 15 minutes. Thus, a person who drinks three regular cups of tea or coffee every day, in a cardboard cup, would swallow 75,000 tiny microplastic particles that are invisible to the human eye," she added.

The researchers followed two different procedures – in the first process, ultra-pure hot water (85-90 degrees Celsius) was poured into disposable cardboard cups and left to stand for 15 minutes.

Goel explained that the homogeneously mixed water was then analyzed for the presence of microplastics, as well as additional ions that may have leached into the liquid from the paper cups.

In the second process, the cardboard cups were first immersed in lukewarm water (30-40 degrees Celsius).

"After that, the hydrophobic film was carefully separated from the cardboard layer and exposed to hot water (85-90 degrees Celsius) for 15 minutes."

Changes in the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of plastic films were examined before and after exposure to hot water.

These microplastics can act as carriers of pollutants such as ions, toxic heavy metals such as palladium, chromium and cadmium, and organic compounds that are equally hydrophobic in nature, allowing them to easily pass into the animal kingdom.

"When ingested, the health implications can be serious," she said.


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