[Migration of Primarily Metallic Elements from Commercial Paper and Bamboo Straws]

The amount of primarily metallic elements that migrated from commercial paper and bamboo straws was measured using 4% acetic acid and water as food simulants for 30 minutes at room temperature and the results were compared with those from products provided by the Japan Paper Association and synthetic resin straws. Additionally, the content in paper and bamboo straws was analyzed, and human exposure to elements from these straws was estimated. Results showed that Al, Mn, and Zn migrated from nearly all commercial straw products, while Ni, Cu, As, and Pb migrated from a few commercial paper and bamboo straw products during extraction using 4% acetic acid. In contrast, only Al and Zn migrated from synthetic resin straws. Paper straws also showed that elements were more likely to migrate into acidic beverages. Notably, As, Cd, Sn, and Pb were detected in most commercial straws, though none of those elements migrated from most commercial products and all provided products. Therefore, it is considered necessary to pay attention to the conditions of use, such as frequency of use, when paper and bamboo straws are used with acidic beverages.