What can come from the plastic lining of a disposable coffee cup?
Avoid using plastic-lined disposable cups as your everyday hot-drink cup.
What's actually in it
A disposable paper coffee cup is usually not just paper. It needs an inner film so hot liquid does not leak. In one 2026 study, the inner film was identified as high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
That lining is the part to watch. Heat, time, and liquid contact can pull particles and other substances from the cup into the drink.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Food Chem Toxicol tested 10 disposable paper cups from markets in Turkey. When the cups contacted hot beverage conditions for 15 minutes, the researchers observed microplastics, zinc at 394.54 ppb, aluminum at 58.05 ppb, ammonium at 1.07 ppm, and chloride at 17.49 ppm.
The study did not show that every paper cup has the same levels. It did show that paper cups with plastic inner film can transfer microplastics and other contaminants into hot liquid.
Practical move: use a reusable glass or ceramic cup for daily coffee. If you need a disposable cup, drink sooner, skip reheating in the cup, and avoid using the same cup over and over.
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 |
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