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Tribune News Service

If you have a spatula made of recycled black plastic, go to your kitchen, grab it and throw it in the rubbish. Immediately.
That is the alarming message from a new study published in the journal Chemosphere.
Cooking with any plastic utensil has long been seen as worrisome because heat can cause chemicals in the plastic to migrate into the food you are about to eat.
But researchers are now saying products made from recycled black plastic contain even more toxic components.

The authors of the Chemosphere study found that everyday household items that are made of black recycled plastic, including kitchen utensils, takeaway containers, toys and hair accessories, have a high chance of containing dangerous levels of flame retardants and other toxic chemicals.
Flame retardants are getting into some of our most commonly used items because they are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives.
As with any other plastic cooking utensil, when you use a black plastic spatula while flipping your pancakes, the heat can encourage any flame retardant present to leach out of the flipper and into your food.
“That is because flame retardants aren’t actually bound to the plastic polymers that they’re added to – it’s an additive, and heat can ease migration of chemicals out of products,” said Megan Liu, co-author of the study and science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future, a US-based research and advocacy group.
The toxins are not in every black-coloured item – for example, you will not find them in a black spatula made of silicone. Nor are they in every black plastic item. The problem is, you cannot tell which plastic ones are risky and which ones are not.
Why get rid of them now?
You may be looking at your black plastic products and thinking, “I’ve used it for this long and I’m OK.”
Liu said these products play the long game.
Cooking daily with a black plastic product can lead to increased exposure to toxic chemicals over time.
Toys with black plastic can be even more harmful to young children, whose bodies are still developing.
Liu said studies have shown that toxic chemicals can leach out of children’s toys and into their saliva if they are put into their mouths.
“It’s really concerning when you think about flame retardants, because they’re known to bioaccumulate in our bodies,” she said.
Sushi trays had one of the highest levels of [a] flame retardant called deca-BDE [Decabromodiphenyl ether], which is really concerning because it has actually been phased out of the US and banned [for several years]
Study co-author Megan Liu
Experts agree that there is no safe level of exposure to these flame retardants.
The build-up can lead to a variety of health issues, including increased risks of cancer, hormone disruption, fertility effects, and damage to the brain and nervous system.
How do you know a product is harmful?
It is nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That is because products that include the recycled e-waste do not disclose a detailed list of all the ingredients and contaminants in the product.
Liu said it is also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products.
Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study had up to nine different harmful chemicals and flame retardants in them, she said.
What can you do about it?
Experts advise consumers not to buy any black plastic cookware or other products if possible. If you already have some products in your kitchen or home, they advise you to throw them away.

There are many restaurants that place their to-go orders in black plastic containers. If you get one of these containers, do not use it to reheat the food or your leftovers – transfer the food to glass or ceramic containers.
“Sushi trays had one of the highest levels of [a] flame retardant called deca-BDE [Decabromodiphenyl ether], which is really concerning because it has actually been phased out of the US and banned [for several years],” Liu said.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of deca-BDE in 2021 after the chemical was linked to cancer, endocrine and thyroid issues, and a host of other ailments.
What are safer alternatives?
The safest non-toxic-material options for kitchen utensils are wood and stainless steel.


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Everyday household items made of black recycled plastic, including kitchen utensils, takeaway containers, toys and hair accessories, have a high chance of containing dangerous levels of flame retardants and other toxic chemicals, a new study finds. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Heat can encourage any flame retardant present in an item like a spatula to leach out into your food. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Kitchenware made of wood or stainless steel is deemed the safest in terms of toxic materials. Photo: Shutterstock

How microplastics threaten humans and the US$149 test to see your levels

Plastic waste litters Bicaz Lake in Romania. Microplastics are found everywhere these days and, alarmingly, are being linked to a range of health problems. Biohacker Bryan Johnson’s company Blueprint has released the world’s first microplastics self-testing kit in response to a growing problem. Photo: Shutterstock

Children play on a plastic-waste-filled beach in Manila, Philippines. Photo: Getty Images

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The cover of the 2021 book Swan co-authored. Photo: Simon and Schuster

Johnson says it is important to measure microplastics’ presence in the body to gauge the size of the problem, and then to work together to find solutions. Photo: Instagram.com/bryanjohnson_

Blueprint’s microplastics self-testing kit for common plastics in the blood. Photo: Blueprint

In hopes of removing toxins, including microplastics, from his body, biohacker Bryan Johnson had a total plasma exchange, removing all the blood plasma in his body and replacing with albumin, the protein in blood plasma. Photo: Instagram.com/bryanjohnson_

How air pollution increases dementia risk and ways to limit your exposure

Visibility is reduced as haze affects Hong Kong today, Central.  
30DEC23 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

Air pollution has been linked to dementia, so taking measures such as installing a home air filter may help safeguard your mental and physical health. Photo: Shutterstock

Air pollution over Beijing in 2015. China has introduced a number of laws to clean up its air, which have been linked to a reduction in cognitive impairment in older adults. Photo: Shutterstock

A study of brain tissue of dogs in heavily polluted Mexico City revealed signs of neurodegeneration that were not evident in brain tissue from dogs from rural areas. Photo: Shutterstock

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The toxic chemicals in our clothes – lead, chromium, PFAS, phthalates – and the harm they do us, our children and the workers who make them

Fast fashion is under attack again, this time over toxic chemicals, from lead used in zips and as a cheap pigment to phthalates that can cause heart problems. Photo: Shutterstock

An 2021 investigation into Shein found elevated levels of lead, phthalates, and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in its clothes. Photo: Jade Gao/AFP

Workers in garment factories are exposed to dangerous chemicals, and the effects can build up over time. Photo: Jade Gao/AFP

Fast fashion company Shein has repeated its commitment to product safety. Photo: Justin Chin/Bloomberg

What Norway’s naked mega-spa is like to visit: a prudish Brit strips off for a ‘hugely liberating’ experience

A couple unwinds in the Turkish hammam at The Well in Norway, which has Scandinavia’s largest spa and one where being naked in the saunas and steam rooms is expected. Photo: The Well

Sauna-goers slap each other with birch-branch whisks at The Well. Photo: The Well

The Well is located in the forests of Sofiemyr, outside Oslo. Photo: The Well

While the space is enormous, the areas feel intimate and safe. Photo: The Well

The Well’s sculpture forest features captivating artworks by renowned Norwegian and international artists. Photo: The Well

An Aufgussmeister leads a traditional Aufguss wellness ritual in a 90-degree-Celsius sauna. Photo: The Well

It’s perfectly acceptable to go for lunch or dinner in your bathrobe (and nothing more) to The Well’s brasserie, and most guests do. Photo: The Well

Lifestyle

Food & Drink

Health & Wellness

Household items made of black recycled plastic could contain dangerous levels of flame retardants and other toxic chemicals, study finds


Household items made of black recycled plastic could contain dangerous levels of flame retardants and other toxic chemicals, study finds.


Recycling and waste reduction

Health & Fitness

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