The Mapusa Municipal Council is reportedly spearheading a campaign that highlights the serious dangers posed by microplastics leaching from paper cups. If we think that by using paper cups for hot beverages we are avoiding the ill effects of plastic on our health, we need to think twice. Most paper cups are made with a thin layer of plastic called polyethylene, which is what keeps heat in and prevents the cup from getting soggy. In the 15 minutes it takes for coffee or tea to be consumed, the microplastic layer on the cup degrades. It is learnt that an average person drinking three regular cups of tea or coffee daily, in a paper cup, would reportedly end up ingesting 75,000 tiny microplastic particles, which are invisible to the naked eye. They are carcinogenic and can disrupt hormonal balance and also lead to gut disorders. A viable alternative is using reusable glass, metal, cups made from bamboo fiber and ceramic cups for hot beverages. It is learnt that a water-based dispersion coating can form an effective barrier inside the cups to make them able to contain liquids.
