New Study Shows When It Comes To Straws, Those On The Left Are Idiots

In a recent study, paper drinking straws, previously championed as eco-friendly substitutes to plastic, have been found to contain potentially hazardous “forever chemicals” linked to cancer.

This latest revelation offers further evidence of the hastiness and shortsightedness on the part of some environmentalists who were quick to ditch traditional plastic straws based on isolated research.

The study, released Thursday in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants, found that the majority of the straws tested contained perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS).

Shockingly, paper and bamboo-based straws were among the top culprits.

These synthetic compounds, notorious for their persistence in the human body and environment, are often utilized due to their waterproof properties.

They’re found in everyday products ranging from non-stick cookware to cosmetics.

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Disturbingly, certain types of PFAS are associated with severe illnesses, including testicular and kidney cancers, as well as thyroid diseases.

“Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” stated Thimo Groffen, the study’s corresponding author and an environmental scientist at the University of Antwerp.

Yet, he soberly added, “the presence of PFAS in these straws means that’s not necessarily true.”

Groffen’s study builds on 2021 research that discovered PFAS in U.S. drinking straws.

Prompted by this, Groffen and his team explored the presence of these chemicals in Belgium’s straws, especially in light of the growing number of nations, like the U.K. and Belgium, that have outlawed single-use plastic products, including straws.

In their research, Groffen’s team purchased 39 brands of drinking straws made from paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel, and plastic.

After two testing rounds, a staggering 29 brands (69%) contained PFAS.

Alarmingly, 90% of paper straws tested and 80% of bamboo brands contained the substances.

Interestingly, none of the stainless-steel straws had any trace of PFAS.

The globally banned compound, PFOA, was identified most frequently.

The research team raised concerns over certain PFAS compounds that are highly water-soluble and might seep into drinks from straws.

However, it remains uncertain whether these chemicals were intentionally added during production or resulted from contamination, like from polluted soil or water used in manufacturing.

Despite the low concentrations of PFAS found, and the intermittent usage of straws by most individuals, Groffen emphasized that these chemicals can linger in the human body and accumulate over time.

“Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body,” he warned. He also pointed out that paper and bamboo straws might not be as biodegradable as marketed.

As a precaution, Groffen recommends stainless-steel straws or avoiding straws altogether.

This study underscores the fact that those on the left are complete idiots. They’d be much better off leaving people alone to make their own decisions.

If I want to use a plastic straw that should be fine and if a leftist want to use a paper straw filled with forever chemicals and increase their risk of cancer that should be fine as well.

https://thefederalistpapers.org/opinion/new-study-shows-comes-straws-left-idiots