Toxic Flame Retardants Found in Common Black Plastics Pose Health Risks, Study Reveals

Sara Myers

4 months ago
A Plastic Pasta Fork Server on White Surface

Photo by Chris Flaten

A recent study has uncovered alarming levels of toxic flame retardants in black plastic products commonly found in households, including kitchen utensils, food containers, and children’s toys. This research, published in the journal Chemosphere, highlights a significant health risk linked to the recycling of electronic waste.

Lead researcher Megan Liu, who serves as the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future, stated, “A product with one of the highest levels of flame retardants were black plastic pirate coin beads that kids wear — they resemble Mardi Gras beads but more for costume wear. ” Liu noted that these beads contained as much as 22,800 parts per million of total flame retardants, which is nearly 3% by weight. She emphasized that children frequently engage with toys repeatedly until they lose interest, raising concerns about prolonged exposure to these harmful substances.

The study identified decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), a flame retardant banned in 2021 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to its links to cancer and other serious health issues.

The findings revealed that 70% of the black plastic products tested contained decaBDE at levels significantly exceeding safety limits set by the European Union. One specific product, a black plastic sushi tray, was found to contain 11,900 parts per million of decaBDE. Researchers estimated that daily exposure from contaminated kitchen utensils could average around 34.7 parts per million of decaBDE.

The study underscores a pressing public health concern regarding black plastics in everyday items.

For more detailed information about this study and its implications, you can refer to the original articles from CNN [4], Well+Good , and Toxic-Free Future.

Sources:
[1] https://www.beyondplastics.org/news-stories/flame-retardant-black-plastic-wellness
[2] https://www.wellandgood.com/flame-retardants-black-plastic/
[3] https://www.delish.com/food-news/a62490798/black-plastic-kitchen-utensils-toxic-chemicals/
[4] https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/01/health/flame-retardant-black-plastic-wellness/index.html
[5] https://toxicfreefuture.org/press-room/first-ever-study-finds-cancer-causing-chemicals-in-black-plastic-food-contact-items-sold-in-the-u-s/
[6] https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2024/10/05/black-plastic-items-can-have-cancer-causing-bfrs-new-study-warns/
[7] https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/10/05/have-black-plastic-your-home-it-could-expose-you-toxic-chemicals-researchers-say/

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