Paper straws have been found to have a carcinogenic impact 6.33 times higher than conventional plastic straws in a South Korean government-commissioned study. The measure refers to a modelled life-cycle impact associated with emissions linked to potential cancer-related effects.
The finding does not mean people who use paper straws face 6.33 times the cancer risk. Instead, the study used a life-cycle assessment to estimate potential health impacts from emissions associated with producing, using and disposing of the straws. The assessment compared conventional polypropylene (PP), paper, biodegradable plastic and bio-based polyethylene (bio-PE) straws across 16 environmental impact categories, including climate change, toxicity and resource use.
