A new study found that black plasticwhich is used in children’s toys, takeout containers, kitchen utensils and meat trays, may contain alarming levels of toxic flame retardants that are believed to leach from electronic products during recycling.
The study, published in the journal Chemosphere, was carried out by Toxic-Free and the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment at the Free University of Amsterdam and warns that: when plastics of this color and origin are recycledits components can slip into everyday objects.
The work, entitled From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items raise concerns over plastic recyclingunderlines the flame retardants brominated (BFR) and organophosphate (OPFR), which “are commonly used in electrical and electronic products at high concentrations to prevent or delay fires.”
Flame retardants
The study warns that “health problems linked to flame retardants (FR) They include carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity.
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are of particular concern due to their toxicity, persistence, and tendency to bioaccumulate.
Several of them are associated with human health concerns, such as carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity.
household items
They point out that, worldwide, the lack of transparency linked to chemicals in products and limited restrictions on the use of FR in electronics have led to the widespread use and spread of harmful substances.
Despite the lack of transparency and restrictions, plastics from electronics are often recycled and can be incorporated into household items that do not require flame retardants“resulting in potentially high and unnecessary exposure,” its authors explain.
This study aimed to determine whether the black plastic household products sold in the American market contained emerging flame retardants and whether, once phased out, the polymer type predicted contamination.
High presence
HE analyzed 203 products for bromine (Br) and products containing less than 50 particles per million Br for BFR, OPFR and plastic polymers (for example, acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene, impact polystyrene or polypropylene).
Concern came when these flame retardants were discovered in 85% of products analyzedwith total FR concentrations reaching 22,800 mg/kg.
Detected FRs include the restricted compound deca-BDE, widely used in electronic enclosures, as well as its substitutes decabromodiphenylethane, tribromophenoxy and triazine, as well as the related compound tribromophenol, recently detected in breast milk.
kitchen utensils
The bottom line is that plastics commonly used in electronic products (styrene-based) contained significantly higher levels of flame retardants than plastics less frequently used in electronics (polypropylene and nylon).
Estimation of exposure to the compound BDE-209 from contaminated kitchen utensils reported that users would have an average intake of 34,700 ng/day, which exceeds intake estimates from dust and diet.
“The detection of flame retardants in collected household products indicates that recycling, without the transparency and restrictions necessary to ensure safety, results in unexpected exposure to toxic flame retardants found in household items», underline the researchers.
Danger for children
Megan Liu, lead author of the study, told CNN that “a product with one of the highest levels of retardants The flame was made from black plastic pirate coin shaped beads that the children used. “They look like carnival necklaces, but they’re more for costumes.”
The study’s lead author, Megan Liu, chief science and policy officer at Toxic-Free Future, an environmental advocacy group, says this particular product “contained up to 22,800 parts per million of flame retardants in total, or almost 3% by weight» said Liu. The danger is that “children often play with toys for days on end until they get tired of them.”
The most dangerous flame retardants found in consumer products are the same ones used in the electronic housings of televisions and other electronic devices, according to Liu.
Recycling errors
“It appears that plastics used to make consumer products have been contaminated with flame retardants.” due to recycling errors electronic waste,” warns the researcher.
Another example reported in the field of consumer products is that of a black plastic sushi traywhich “contains 11,900 parts per million of flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether, or decaBDE for short. “This chemical belongs to the flame retardant class of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs.”
The study recalls that people with the highest levels of PBDE in their blood had approximately one 300% more likely to die from cancer than people with the lowest levels, according to an April 2024 study.
Spatulas and spoons
In 2021, the US Environmental Protection Agency decaBDE completely banned after linking it to cancer, endocrine and thyroid problems, fetal and child development, neurobehavioral function, and reproductive and immune system toxicity.
Despite these restrictions, decaBDE was found in 70% of the samples analyzed, at levels between five and 1,200 times the European Union limit of 10 parts per million, Liu says.
Based on exposure to contaminated black plastic cooking utensils, such as spatulas and skimmers, study researchers estimated that a person You could be exposed to an average of 34.7 parts per million of decaBDE every day..
Disturbing presence
“It was particularly worrying that they discovered retardants that should no longer be used» explains toxicologist Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program.
“I would recommend do not use black plastic as incoming material contact with food or buy toys with black plastic parts“, says Birnbaum.
Electronic devices with FR
According to the American Chemistry Council website, electronic devices that use flame retardants to prevent fires are common in American homes.
The organization emphasizes that “andIn the average home, there are more than 20 electronic productsincluding TVs, smartphones, computers, gaming systems and tablets. “These devices are part of our daily lives, but they could pose additional safety risks without flame retardants.”
THE manufacturers They also use flame retardants in sofas, recliners, office chairs, car upholstery, baby car seats, carpet padding, foam-filled yoga mats, and household items. padded for babies.
From there, flame retardants can “products escape into the air and then adhere to dust, food and waterthat can be ingested,” according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
