4 ms·

A "paper" cup is an illusion, because it still needs to be coated with another material, usually plastic, in order to withstand water. Hot water plus a plastic

A "paper" cup is an illusion, because it still needs to be coated with another material, usually plastic, in order to withstand water. Hot water plus a plastic inner surface equals leeching.

prepend 3y ago
Bring back wax coatings. And styrofoam.
- takoid 3y ago
  The issue with styrofoam (polystyrene) is that it leads to microplastics that have been found in human blood. > The scientists analysed blood samples from 22 anonymous donors, all healthy adults and found plastic particles in 17. Half the samples contained PET plastic, which is commonly used in drinks bottles, while a third contained polystyrene, used for packaging food and other products. A quarter of the blood samples contained polyethylene, from which plastic carrier bags are made. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-time https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/micropla...
- hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
  Pretty sure wax coatings aren't going to work for a hot cup. Have you ever accidentally put a hot drink into a cold cup (those cold cups that are wax coated)? You're left with a droopy mess of melted wax.
  - serf 3y ago
    years ago hot-cups were indeed wax coated, but they were generally double-walled paper. And yeah, you are right, a very hot cup of coffee when left to sit would 'precipitate' some floating wax islands atop the surface; but I think it was just presumed that the wax source (beeswax, whatever) was safe to eat. the worst thing was when you'd forget your hot cup of coffee until the next day somewhere, by which point the wax was off the paper and the liquid was out of the cup.
    - Tagbert 3y ago
      even paraffin is not a significant health concern unless you consume it in large quantities and then the problem is more like Olestra.
klyrs 3y ago
Likewise with aluminum cans, whose insides are coated with an epoxy liner containing BPA. Good news, it isn't a hot beverage; bad news, carbonated water is acidic.
- rootusrootus 3y ago
  The lacquer used in aluminum cans has just a trace amount of BPA.
- gruez 3y ago
  >bad news, carbonated water is acidic. Is this a relevant factor? Presumably plastic was chosen because it's resistant to acid.
  - RetroTechie 3y ago
    That's parent's point: if aluminium were resistant to (weak) acids, or carbonated drinks weren't acidic, there would be no need for a plastic liner inside aluminium can (and thus no BPA-present-or-not issue).
- forgotmypw17 3y ago
  Depending on the route and storage methods, aluminum cans can reach very hot temperatures while in transport.

A "paper" cup is an illusion, because it still needs to be coated with another material, usually plastic, in order to withstand water. Hot water plus a plastic inner surface equals leeching.

prepend 3y ago

Bring back wax coatings. And styrofoam.

takoid 3y ago
The issue with styrofoam (polystyrene) is that it leads to microplastics that have been found in human blood. > The scientists analysed blood samples from 22 anonymous donors, all healthy adults and found plastic particles in 17. Half the samples contained PET plastic, which is commonly used in drinks bottles, while a third contained polystyrene, used for packaging food and other products. A quarter of the blood samples contained polyethylene, from which plastic carrier bags are made. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-time https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/micropla...
hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
Pretty sure wax coatings aren't going to work for a hot cup. Have you ever accidentally put a hot drink into a cold cup (those cold cups that are wax coated)? You're left with a droopy mess of melted wax.
- serf 3y ago
  years ago hot-cups were indeed wax coated, but they were generally double-walled paper. And yeah, you are right, a very hot cup of coffee when left to sit would 'precipitate' some floating wax islands atop the surface; but I think it was just presumed that the wax source (beeswax, whatever) was safe to eat. the worst thing was when you'd forget your hot cup of coffee until the next day somewhere, by which point the wax was off the paper and the liquid was out of the cup.
  - Tagbert 3y ago
    even paraffin is not a significant health concern unless you consume it in large quantities and then the problem is more like Olestra.

klyrs 3y ago

Likewise with aluminum cans, whose insides are coated with an epoxy liner containing BPA. Good news, it isn't a hot beverage; bad news, carbonated water is acidic.

rootusrootus 3y ago
The lacquer used in aluminum cans has just a trace amount of BPA.
gruez 3y ago
>bad news, carbonated water is acidic. Is this a relevant factor? Presumably plastic was chosen because it's resistant to acid.
- RetroTechie 3y ago
  That's parent's point: if aluminium were resistant to (weak) acids, or carbonated drinks weren't acidic, there would be no need for a plastic liner inside aluminium can (and thus no BPA-present-or-not issue).
forgotmypw17 3y ago
Depending on the route and storage methods, aluminum cans can reach very hot temperatures while in transport.