Black Plastic : Hazardous
Black Plastic made headlines as a recent study claimed that the material contained toxic flame retardants which could be leaching into food at hazardous levels.
- It is a type of plastic used to make everyday items like food trays, containers, and utensils.
- It is often made from recycled electronic waste such as computers, TVs and appliances.
- These are more likely to contain unregulated amounts of toxic chemicals including heavy metals and flame retardants.
- The issue is that these electronics typically contain substances such as the flame retardant bromine; antimony; and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury.
- The aforementioned substances and heavy metals are known to be toxic to humans at high levels of exposure.
- Children are particularly vulnerable as they often come into prolonged contact with toys that could expose them to harmful chemicals through direct handling or ingestion.
- Toxic chemicals in black plastic kitchen utensils could leach into food during heating, compounding the risk of exposure for households using these products regularly.
- Studies have shown that chemicals in black plastic, such as BPA and phthalates, disrupt the endocrine system, leading to potential reproductive health issues, obesity, and diabetes.
- It is difficult to recycle and often ends up in landfills or incinerators, releasing toxic substances like dioxins and furans into the air.
