In today’s fast-paced world, many of us hardly have any time to sit down and enjoy a meal. One may not have given much thought to the utensils that were used for cooking and eating. Plastics are widely used everywhere in almost everything, from toys to electronics, as they are cost-effective, long-lasting, and easy to dispose of. However, there is a hidden risk in certain plastics that we often use in our households called black plastics.
What Are Black Plastics?
Black plastics are commonly found in most electronic parts, such as computers, mobile phones, and TVs, as well as household items like kitchen utensils and children’s toys. These plastics are often contaminated with flame retardants, which are added to meet the safety regulations. But these flame retardants are a cause of concern to human and environmental health.
Why Is It a Cause of Concern?
Due to the high demand for black plastics, the needs are often met by recycling plastic from waste electronic equipment. Even though strict regulations exist to avoid the recycling of plastics that exceed the limits of these chemicals called flame retardants, there are reports that indicate that products exceeding these limits are sold. The presence of these harmful chemicals can leach into the air, water, and food.
A recent study by the Toxic-Free Future organization in the US and Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam has linked these harmful chemicals found in items such as toys, kitchen utensils, and takeout containers to serious health risks. [2]
These seemingly aesthetic black products, often made from recycled electronic wastes, are linked to cancer, hormonal disruptions, thyroid problems, and developmental issues in children.
Shockingly, people with the highest levels of these chemicals in their blood are three times more likely to die from cancer.Dr. Saurabh Sethi, MD, MPH
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, MD, MPH, a board-certified gastroenterologist, explained this issue in his Instagram post. He stated, “Shockingly, people with the highest levels of these chemicals in their blood are three times more likely to die from cancer.”
How To Reduce This Exposure?
Here are a few steps you can take to minimize your exposure to these harmful chemicals:
1. Switch to alternatives: Instead of using utensils made of black plastic, consider using stainless steel, ceramic, or wooden utensils.
2. Avoid heating: Avoid microwaving food in black plastic containers as this can cause an increase in the release of chemicals into your food.
3. Avoid black plastic toys: Harmful chemicals from black toys may leach into children’s saliva and can pose a great risk to their health.
4. Maintain hygiene: Wash your hands frequently, and regularly clean your home to minimize exposure. [3,4]
Although these products may seem convenient and attractive, they pose a high threat to our lives. It is better to stay informed and make better choices for a safer and toxin-free household.
References
1. Dr. Sethi Instagram Post on Black Utensils (2024) [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DByrz1kRrix/?igsh=d28zZWpsb2tpbDhh ]
2. Liu, Megan, Sicco H. Brandsma, and Erika Schreder. "From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling." Chemosphere 365 (2024): 143319.
3. Kuang, Jiangmeng, Mohamed Abou-Elwafa Abdallah, and Stuart Harrad. "Brominated flame retardants in black plastic kitchen utensils: Concentrations and human exposure implications." Science of The Total Environment 610 (2018): 1138-1146.
4. Someya, Masayuki, Go Suzuki, Alin C. Ionas, Nguyen Minh Tue, Fuchao Xu, Hidenori Matsukami, Adrian Covaci et al. "Occurrence of emerging flame retardants from e-waste recycling activities in the northern part of Vietnam." Emerging Contaminants 2, no. 2 (2016): 58-65.
MSM