Do disposable paper cups leach microplastics into hot drinks?
Yes. A 2026 Food and Chemical Toxicology study found HDPE-lined disposable paper cups released microplastics, zinc, aluminium, ammonium, and chloride into hot liquid after 15 minutes.
What's actually in it
Disposable paper cups are usually not just paper. Many have an inner plastic film that keeps liquid from soaking through.
In the 2026 study, the inner film was identified as high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Hot drinks can change that lining and pull small particles into the liquid.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Food and Chemical Toxicology tested 10 disposable paper cups from marketplaces in Türkiye.
After contact with hot liquid for 15 minutes, the researchers observed microplastics and measured migration of zinc at 394.54 ppb, aluminium at 58.05 ppb, ammonium at 1.07 ppm, and chloride at 17.49 ppm.
The study supports caution with hot drinks in disposable cups. It did not test every cup brand, and it did not show what happens with cold drinks.
What to do at home
Use a reusable cup when you can. At home or work, glass coffee cups avoid the plastic-lined paper cup problem for hot drinks.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring of microplastics, ions and heavy metals in disposable paper cups from Turkiye marketplaces. | Food Chem Toxicol | 2026 |