Exposing the Hidden Dangers of Unqualified Plastic Cups? (Part 1)

A cup with a story, a life with warmth—hello everyone, "Dong Dong's Cup Talk" is here. In previous articles, I’ve shared insights about various plastic materials used in producing plastic cups. Friends interested in learning more can look back at my earlier posts. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10475.htmlToday, I’d like to discuss the hidden dangers of unqualified plastic cups, especially those designed for children and infants. Regarding materials, I’ll focus only on plastic cups made from PP, PPSU, and TRITAN, as well as the issues associated with unqualified plastic cups. Given the extensive content, I’ll break it down into several standalone posts for everyone.

In past shares, many topics were divided into multiple posts. Some eager friends might have only read one post about the issues they’re concerned with. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10475.htmlIf you want a comprehensive understanding, please read through the posts in sequence. I’ve tried to consider every aspect thoroughly to address everyone’s doubts.

I. The Origins of Plastic Cups and Early Material Concerns

As a synthetic polymer material, plastic began its commercial application in the early 20th century. In 1907, Baekeland invented phenolic resin, marking the dawn of the synthetic plastic era. However, the widespread use of plastics in daily consumer goods, particularly in the realm of cups, dates back to the post-World War II period. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10475.htmlEspecially in the 1950s and 1960s, with the rapid development of the petrochemical industry, materials such as polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC) achieved large-scale industrial production.

Early plastic cups were predominantly made from polycarbonate (PC) material. PC offered advantages such as high transparency, lightweight, and excellent impact resistance, quickly becoming the mainstream material for "space cups," baby bottles, and similar products. However, over time and with deeper research, https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10475.htmlserious health concerns associated with early PC materials were uncovered: bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a key monomer in the production of PC plastics. During use, especially when holding hot water or being cleaned with acidic or alkaline substances, BPA can leach out of the plastic and migrate into food and beverages.

Multiple scientific studies and reports from authoritative institutions indicate that BPA is a typical environmental hormone. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10475.htmlEven in very low doses, it can adversely affect human health, including but not limited to:

- Endocrine system disruption: May affect reproductive development and lead to precocious puberty.

- Increased disease risk: Associated with a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

- Particularly harmful to children: Infants and young children, whose liver detoxification and kidney excretion functions are not fully developed, https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10475.htmlare more sensitive to chemicals like BPA. Exposure may impact their nervous system and behavioral development.

Based on these findings, starting in 2011, multiple countries and regions worldwide, including the European Union and China, https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10475.htmlhave successively banned the use of BPA-containing PC materials in food-contact products such as infant bottles.