21-07-2025
Why carrying your own cup while travelling can protect you from microplastics
If you're in the habit of drinking tea or coffee from a disposable paper cup, it might be time to switch to a reusable one. According to researchers, hot beverages poured into plastic or paper cups can release thousands of microplastic particles into your drink, and eventually into your AnanthKumar, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), recently shared a message on social media, encouraging people to carry their own cups while travelling. 'Along with your water bottle, carry your own cup to avoid drinking tea or coffee in paper cups,' she wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
advertisement'A hot beverage left in a paper cup for just 15 minutes can release up to 25,000 microplastic particles.' She credited this information to a study from IIT Kharagpur.
PAPER CUPS ARE NOT JUST PAPERThough called "paper" cups, these disposable containers are usually lined with a thin layer of plastic — typically polyethylene — to hold the liquid. When hot drinks are poured into them, this lining begins to break a 2021 study, researchers from IIT Kharagpur, including Dr. Sudha Goel and research scholars Ved Prakash Ranjan and Anuja Joseph, discovered that within 15 minutes of contact with hot liquid (85–90 degrees Celsius), the cup releases around 25,000 microplastic particles into just 100 ml of if you're drinking three cups of tea or coffee a day in these cups, you could be swallowing up to 75,000 microplastic particles daily without even DO THESE PARTICLES GO?Once consumed, microplastics can enter our bloodstream and travel through the body. Over time, they may accumulate in vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and even in the placenta of pregnant women, according to small-scale lab studies.'These microplastics can act as carriers for other toxic substances like heavy metals and organic compounds,' said Dr. Goel. This could increase the health risks further, she ARE THE HEALTH RISKS?Though long-term research is still ongoing, scientists are already warning about the potential dangers. Microplastics and the chemicals used in plastics like bisphenols, phthalates, and dioxins, are linked to a range of serious health concerns. These include:Hormonal imbalancesReproductive issuesGrowth problems in childrenObesityCancerNeurological disordersImmune system damageIn 2024, a study from Columbia University also found that single-use plastic bottles can release over 2,40,000 nanoplastic fragments, which are even smaller than microplastics and possibly more dangerous. These particles can pass through cell walls, reach the brain, and even the unborn CAN YOU DO?Experts say one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your exposure is by carrying your own reusable steel or glass cup, especially when drinking hot liquids. Not only is it better for your health, but it's also a more sustainable choice for the daily cup of chai doesn't have to come with a dose of plastic. A simple switch can help you stay healthier, one sip at a time.- EndsTrending Reel
