JAKARTA - Ngopi has become a mandatory ritual for many people. The morning feels incomplete without a cup of hot coffee from a favorite cafe. Practical, fast, and can be taken anywhere. However, behind this habit of takeaway coffee, there is a risk that often escapes attention, namely the entry of microplastics into the body without realizing it.
Unbeknownst to many, disposable coffee cups, especially those made of plastic or plastic-lined, can release thousands of microplastic particles into hot drinks.
"Most people think takeaway coffee cups are safe, but when exposed to heat, plastic materials can release microplastic particles into the drink," the researchers wrote in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics, quoted from The Conversation website.
Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic, some even smaller than dust. These particles can come off when the plastic is exposed to heat, including when hot coffee is poured into a plastic cup or a plastic-lined paper cup.
Research shows that the temperature of the drink is the main factor that triggers the release of microplastics, not the length of time the coffee is in the glass.
"The hotter the liquid is in contact with the plastic, the greater the amount of microplastics released," the research team explained in the study.
This means that hot coffee that has just been brewed and poured directly into a plastic glass has the potential to carry more microplastics than cold drinks.
Many people think paper cups are safer because they look environmentally friendly. In fact, most paper cups for hot drinks are still coated with a thin plastic on the inside so that they don't leak.
Even though the amount of microplastics released is less than pure plastic glasses, plastic-lined paper glasses are still not free of microplastics.
"Both plastic and plastic-lined paper cups release microplastics. The difference is only in the amount," wrote the researchers.
In one study, a person who regularly drinks 300 ml of hot coffee per day from a plastic glass has the potential to swallow hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles in a year.
Until now, scientists are still studying the long-term impact of microplastics on human health. There is no definite conclusion, but microplastics have been found in various parts of the body, including blood and organ tissue.
"We don't fully understand what the presence of microplastics in the human body means, but continuous exposure is certainly not ideal," the experts said.
Therefore, preventive measures are important, especially from daily habits that seem trivial such as coffee.
How to Make Coffee More Safe from Microplastics
Without having to stop drinking coffee, there are some simple habits that can be done to reduce the risk.
- Use reusable tumblers or cups made of stainless steel, glass, or ceramics
- Avoid pouring coffee that is still too hot into a plastic container
- If you buy takeaway coffee, choose a plastic-lined paper cup instead of a pure plastic cup
- Get used to bringing your own container when buying coffee
"The choice of material and temperature of the drink plays a big role in daily exposure to microplastics," the researchers wrote.
Coffee is part of the modern lifestyle. However, in the midst of this comfort, it is important to be more aware of what goes into the body. With a little change in habits, we can still enjoy our favorite coffee without adding unnecessary risks.
Because it turns out, the danger of microplastics is not always visible, sometimes it dissolves behind the aroma of morning coffee.
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