It is no secret that some materials used to make kitchen utensils may be unsafe for health. We have previously reported that toxic substances are found even in dishes. And we are talking not only about old frying pans with non-stick coating, but even about pots from the USSR. According to a recent study, spatulas, trays, graters and other products made of black recycled plastic can also be classified as toxic kitchen utensils.
Scientists recommend giving up black plastic utensils. Photo source: 7days.ru
What is the danger of kitchen accessories made from recycled plastic
Plastics are known to burn well on their own. Therefore, since the 70s of the last century, fire retardants have been added to their composition – chemicals that reduce the flammability of plastics, as well as the rate of combustion. First of all, they were added to electrical appliances to reduce their fire hazard.
Flame retardants are often much more durable than the plastic products they are added to. In fact, they even persist in recycled plastic. However, most of these chemicals are usually highly toxic. Flame retardants are also known to bioaccumulate, meaning they accumulate in body tissues.
Recycled plastic often contains hazardous chemicals. Photo source: vtormarket-samara.ru
Unfortunately, plastic that is recycled is not carefully sorted. This means that flame retardants can get into any product, including plastic kitchen accessories. Therefore, not only the toxic dishes mentioned above can cause harm to health.
In which plastic products are flame retardants present
Scientists are concerned that toxic plastic may be used to make products that people come into direct contact with. You must admit, it is one thing to have a socket made of toxic plastic at home, and another to have a spatula for mixing food.
The authors of the study examined more than 200 household plastic products. Among them were various kitchen utensils, food containers, children's toys, hair accessories, jewelry, etc. The researchers tested them primarily for the presence of bromine, which is present in so-called brominated flame retardants (BFRs). If a product was found to have a high bromine content, the team also tested it for the presence of other flame retardants, such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs).
The researchers found the largest amount of fire retardants in beaded beads. Photo source: livescience.com
Initial screening showed that flame retardants are present in every tenth plastic product. Typically, such plastic contains a large amount of BFR and OPFR. The highest content of flame retardants was found in beaded necklaces (pictured above). The researchers also found a high content of toxic chemicals in a toy pirate medallion. Smaller amounts of chemicals were found in other products, including the kitchen accessories listed above. The authors report this in the Chemosphere publication.
It should be said that flame retardants can be found not only in black plastic products. However, it is in black plastic that the likelihood of encountering them is highest.
Why are flame retardants in plastic dangerous for health?
Previous studies on laboratory animals have shown that both of the above-mentioned flame retardants cause health problems, including thyroid dysfunction, developmental disorders, brittle bones, etc. In general, the effects of flame retardants on the body are still very poorly understood. In particular, it is not known what amount is needed to cause any health problems.
Flame retardants can be absorbed through the skin and into food, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. However, scientists are not yet sure how much of the chemical ingested from plastic can cause health problems. Much depends on the type of chemical, the concentration, the type of exposure, and individual circumstances.
Flame retardants can cause thyroid problems and other health risks. Photo source: gazeta.ru
In addition, not all flame retardants are hazardous to health. It should also be taken into account that most of the analyzed products did not contain chemicals. But at the same time, many plastic products that contain these chemicals are used by people every day. Moreover, the authors of the study found several flame retardants in each of them. Therefore, the researchers claim that at home they replaced all kitchen utensils made of black plastic with wooden or stainless steel ones, which are guaranteed not to cause harm to health.
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Perhaps you have a question – why did not the manufacturers of potentially dangerous equipment themselves worry about this problem? Let us remind you that representatives of the chemical industry deliberately concealed the deadly danger of PFAS, chemicals that surround us everywhere.