COMMONLY used cooking utensils may contain potentially cancerous chemicals due to mistakes in recycling practices, a new study has warned.
As part of a study published in the journal Chemosphere, 203 consumer products were screened for bromine – commonly used to make flame retardants – and toxic levels of “cancer-causing chemicals” were discovered.
According to the findings, black-coloured plastic, used in kitchen utensils, takeaway containers and children’s toys contain toxic levels of brominated flame retardants (BFRs).
BFRs were found in 85 per cent of products, with total concentrations ranging up to 22,800 parts per million (ppm) of chemicals.
Banned substance deca-BDE, which is considered to have carcinogenic potential, was also discovered.
While exposure to bromine has not been linked to the development of cancer, some scientists have suggested toxic levels of BFRs can present a risk of carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity.
BFRs are commonly found in plastics, TVs, and electronics, and “are currently the largest marketed flame retardant group due to their high-performance efficiency and low cost,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Alongside kitchen utensils, the study found BFRs were present in beaded, pirate-coin necklaces worn by kids, sushi trays, grocery meat trays, hair accessories, Tupperware containers and office supplies.
The researchers estimated those using contaminated black plastic kitchen utensils would be exposed to an average of 34,700 ppm of decaBDE each day.
Study co-author Megan Liu, who’s also science and policy manager at Toxic-Free Future, said: “Companies continue to use toxic flame retardants in plastic electronics, and that’s resulting in unexpected and unnecessary toxic exposures.
“These cancer-causing chemicals shouldn’t be used to begin with, but with recycling, they are entering our environment and our homes in more ways than one. The high levels we found are concerning.”
The popularity of BFRs increased after restrictions on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were put in place.
PBDEs are a type of BFR that were previously used as flame retardants in a variety of products, including furniture, textiles, and electrical equipment.
PBDEs were banned due to concerns about their potential health risks and environmental impact.
The study researchers noted only black plastics were studied so they were unable to determine if other colours of plastics could also be exposed.
The brand of products analysed were also left unnamed.
It was also suggested consumers should avoid buying toys with black plastics and refrain from using black plastic for food contact materials.
A study published earlier this year warned that plastic and non-stick cookware can release microplastics into food during food preparation.
The study published by scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, SALT Lofoten and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research investigated the extent to which non-plastic, new plastic and old plastic cookware can contaminate food.
Microplastics can stem from the degradation of larger plastic items or the direct release of tiny plastic particles.
Consumption of microplastics by humans can occur via inhalation of airborne fibres or ingestion of microplastic-contaminated foods and beverages.
As part of the study, the researchers prepared jelly using either non-plastic, new plastic or old plastic cookware.
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Source: Cancer Research UK
Reacting to the study’s findings, Co-author Dr Amy Lusher of NIVA Norway, said “Much of the concern of microplastics in food products has grown from the presence of microplastics in seafood. We set out to look at alternative sources of microplastics to the human diet. Since much of our food preparation happens at home, the kitchen was a logical, yet overlooked, place to investigate.
“Our results were concerning – showing that plastic cookware is likely adding thousands of microplastics into the human diet each year. Furthermore, it found that new and old plastic cookware significantly increased microplastic load in prepared food.
“Assuming a meal was prepared daily per the prescribed methodology, new and old plastic cookware may be contributing 2409-4964 microplastics per annum into homecooked food. Non-plastic cookware did not introduce microplastics into prepared food.”
Dr Lusher added the health implications of ingesting microplastics remains unclear.
