The Effect of Forever Chemicals from Paper Cups on Planarians

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals added to products like paper cups, Teflon pans, and muffin tins to make them water-resistant and durable. PFAS have been a growing concern for the human health and the environment due to their migration into the beverages and foods we consume. PFAS have been linked to various health issues such as cancer, immunotoxicity, and thyroid disturbances. The purpose of this study is to determine the amount of PFAS leaking from paper cups into water and their impact on planarians through three different experiments: optimization of PFAS detection, determination of leaching PFAS from paper cups, and exposing planarians to PFAS to assess toxic effects. PFAS detection is performed using a colorimetric assay on three different PFAS substances. This method had detection limits between 2.5 µg/mL and 23 µg/mL for the three PFAS tested. The leakage of PFAS into beverages from paper cups was determined by changing the temperature and time the liquid is exposed to the interior of the cups. PFAS migrated into the water at an increased amount with heat applied compared to room temperature. Additionally, increasing the length of time the water is exposed to cups showed an increase in PFAS migration. Lastly, to demonstrate the potential toxic effects of these extracted PFAS on an animal model, Girardia dorotocephala planarian worms were exposed to extracts of paper cups and observed for behavior and survival rates. Data suggest that PFAS extracts did not affect planarian behavior.