Kathmandu. At present, hot beverages in the market are often consumed in ‘paper cups’. When they see paper cups, many people think that they are eco-friendly and safe for health. However, recent international studies have revealed different and worrying facts.
Reality of Paper Cup: It’s not just ‘paper’{
Most paper cups are not actually pure paper. A thin lining of polyethylene or other plastic is placed on the inner surface of the cup to prevent water from leaking. The problem starts when an overheated drink is poured into the cup. The heat causes the plastic layer to melt, releasing tiny plastic particles into the beverage.
According to a study by experts from Singapore’s National University of Science and Technology (NUS), thousands of microplastic particles are released when a hot beverage is left in a cup for 15 minutes.
Risk of serious health effects
These microscopic plastic particles enter our body and can accumulate in the stomach, lungs or even blood. According to experts, drinking hot beverages in this way for a long time can cause irritation, swelling and hormonal imbalance in the body. If a person drinks a hot drink from such a cup three times a day, there is a risk of 70,000 to 80,000 microplastic particles entering the body every day.
How TAG_OPEN_strong_26 to adopt safe habits in daily life?
To avoid this risk, consumers can change some simple habits.
- Choose a safer option: Make it a habit to use your glasses, steel bottles or ceramic cups as much as possible when going home, office, or outside.
- Pay attention to the label: Cups that are called ‘biodegradable’ may sometimes have a plastic layer on the inside. So before drinking the drink, pay attention to the quality of the cup and the texture of the inside.
- Short-term use: Make it a habit to keep the hot beverage in a paper cup for as little time as possible (e.g. less than 5 minutes).
These cups, which are used for our small convenience and convenience, not only pose a risk to personal health but also add plastic pollution to the environment when discarded. The habit of choosing a safe cup while drinking hot drinks helps to keep the environment clean and the body healthy. Cheap and easy remedies can sometimes lead to serious problems in the long run. Therefore, it is wise to choose the option carefully.
