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Glass items used daily at home, including cups and reusable glass straws, can develop microscopic cracks over time that may create unexpected health risks, according to a pediatric surgery specialist in eastern Türkiye.
The warning comes as more people turn to glass products as an alternative to plastic, often assuming they are entirely harmless.
Dr. Emine Bilaloglu, a pediatric surgery specialist at Bayburt State Hospital, explained that growing concern over the environmental and health impacts of plastic products has pushed consumers toward other options.
She noted that people initially switched from plastic straws to paper ones, but because paper straws tend to break down quickly when in contact with liquids, interest has increasingly shifted to glass straws and other glassware.
While glass products are generally considered safe and free from chemical contamination, Bilaloglu stressed that they still require careful handling.
During routine activities such as washing, placing items on shelves, loading dishwashers, or stirring drinks, tiny cracks can form in glass surfaces without being noticed. She warned that these microcracks can later break off and enter the body through drinks consumed from cracked glasses or straws.
According to Bilaloglu, fragments from these invisible cracks may be swallowed along with beverages and pass into the digestive system through the mouth. Adults may sometimes notice damage before an injury occurs, but children are far less likely to recognize such dangers. As a result, the risk becomes more serious for younger users.
She explained that sharp glass fragments can cause injuries inside the mouth, including cuts to the tongue and inner cheeks. Beyond the mouth, swallowed pieces may get stuck at any level of the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, or intestines. In severe cases, this can lead to bleeding, internal perforation, and even the need for surgical intervention.
Bilaloglu placed particular emphasis on the risks for children, especially those left unsupervised.
Thin glass cups and narrow glass straws can be bitten and broken by children, increasing the chance that fragments will be swallowed.
Even when a glass breaks outside the mouth, children may pick up small pieces and put them into their mouths out of curiosity.
She added that this risk is especially high for very young children in the so-called oral period, a developmental stage in which infants and toddlers explore objects by putting them in their mouths.
For this reason, she advised that small children should never be left alone with glass products of any kind.
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