Toxic flame retardants from recycled electronic waste may be contaminating everyday black plastic products, according to a new study. Items like children’s toys, food containers, and kitchen utensils were found to contain high levels of harmful chemicals.
Published in Chemosphere, the study revealed that over 70% of tested samples, including pirate-themed beads and sushi trays, were dangerously contaminated. Some of these products contained flame retardants at levels up to 2,280 times higher than safety limits set by the European Union.
Many of these flame retardants, particularly decaBDE, have been banned in the US since 2021 for their links to cancer, hormone disruption, developmental issues, and immune system toxicity.
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According to the report in CNN, one black plastic toy item meant for children contained 22,800 parts per million (ppm) of flame retardants, nearly 3% of its total weight. “These are the same toxic chemicals once used in electronics like TVs,” said lead author Megan Liu from Toxic-Free Future. “They’ve now made their way into products never meant to contain them.”
Linda Birnbaum, a toxicologist and former head of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, cautioned that the ban on these chemicals doesn’t mean they’re safe. “I recommend avoiding black plastic in kitchenware and children’s products,” she said.
While individual steps, like avoiding black-coloured utensils and using stainless steel kitchenware instead of plastic, can help, the researchers call for a systemic change to tackle the issues. “We need stronger government and corporate policies to phase out harmful flame retardants,” Liu said. “Without it, our recycling systems may continue to unknowingly contaminate everyday products.”
