A study out of Belgium published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants suggests that “forever chemicals” or “PFAS” — officially called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — were found in the majority of both paper and bamboo straws tested. Such chemicals have the potential to cause cancer and other ailments.

Per the study, eighteen different PFAS were detected in total — and the most common one was banned globally in 2020. Those chemicals are also bad for the environment. According to the study, plastic straws contain fewer PFAS.

As flagged by USA Today, the study concluded, “These ‘eco-friendly’ plant-based straws are not necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic straws because they can be considered as an additional source of PFAS exposure in humans and the environment (e.g., after degradation in landfills or through incomplete incineration).”

[Frankly, I don’t like straws anyway. I use them when I get drinks at fast-food joints when the order is to-go, but otherwise I drink from the cup itself. But if I was to choose one over the other, it would likely be plastic, even though the paper straws are more biodegradable. They just don’t hold up as well, especially for thicker drinks like milkshakes. — Ed]