Recent research by IIT Kharagpur has confirmed contamination of the hot liquid served in paper cups due to the degradation of microplastics and other hazardous components from the lining material of the cup. Within 15 minutes this microplastic layer degrades as a reaction to hot water, says the first of its kind study conducted in India by Dr. Sudha Goel, Associate Professor at the Dept. of Civil Engineering and research scholars Ved Prakash Ranjan and Anuja Joseph studying Environmental Engineering and Management. Prof. Sudha Goel expressed concern over the bioaccumulation of microplastics in human and animal bodies. Director, Prof. Virendra K Tewari called for careful consideration before the promotion of replacements for bio-hazardous products and environmental pollutants. 

Cite this paper: Ranjan VP, Joseph A and S Goel [2020] Microplastics and other harmful substances released from disposable paper cups into hot liquids, Jour. of Hazardous Materials, 404 (124118): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124118

More details: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/how-safe-is-your-tea-in-a-paper-cup/