Takeaway Coffee Cups Release Thousands of Microplastic Particles into Drinks, Study Finds

New research indicates that takeaway coffee cups, particularly those with plastic linings, release thousands of microplastic particles into hot beverages. In Australia, 1.45 billion single-use hot beverage cups are used annually. Heat is identified as a primary driver of microplastic release from these cups. Microplastics, defined as plastic fragments from dust speck to sesame seed size, can enter the environment, food, and bodies. While the long-term health effects and the extent of microplastic retention in the human body are still under investigation, awareness of such sources is growing.