Experts say black plastic may contain toxic compounds that could end up in food

Some products made from black plastic, such as those used in food containers, coffee lids and even kitchen utensils, are coming under fire from experts due to a recent study that found a lack of recycling regulation is leading to toxic chemicals in the household. plastics.

In a study published in magazine “Chemosphere” In October, researchers in the US and the Netherlands discovered brominated flame retardants (BFRs) used to strengthen electronics plastic in household items made from recycled black plastic in the US.

Flame retardants, including toxic, regulated compounds, were found in about 85 percent of the products the researchers analyzed. Items tested include kitchen utensils, food trays and even children’s toys.

“Many times when we encounter black plastic in our kitchens, it is made from recycled electronic components, including cell phones, old computers and laptops that are not intended for food use,” said Tizazu Mekonnen, a chemist at the University of Waterloo. professor of engineering who was not involved in the study.

the study is being evaluated that the use of contaminated kitchen utensils contributed to the ingestion of 34,700 nanograms of the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether per day. US EPA Reference Dose — or the recommended limit is 42,000 nanograms per day for an adult weighing an average of 60 kilograms.

The study looked at the amount of fire retardants in objects made of black plastic, but not in people.

Mekonnen and other experts say we should minimize the use of black plastic in our homes and kitchens to prevent plastic-related chemicals from harming our health.

What is black plastic?

According to Western University biochemist Elizabeth Gillis, black plastic is colored using a substance called carbon black.

“Essentially, it is soot that is formed as a result of incomplete combustion of various materials, such as coal, petroleum products or plant matter,” she said.

However, concerns arise when recycled plastic from electronics ends up in household and kitchen plastics.

That’s because plastics in electronics contain compounds—such as brominated flame retardants, which help prevent plastic from melting at high temperatures—that can be harmful if ingested in significant concentrations.

What are the health problems associated with black plastic?

Doctors like Dr. Sejal Bhargava say eating food contaminated with toxic compounds found in black plastic can contribute to serious health problems, including cancer and fertility problems.

“The health impacts are not fully understood, but the emerging evidence is not good news,” said Bhargava, an Ontario family physician and resident in public health and medicine at the University of Ottawa who sits on the board of the Canadian Physicians Association. for the environment.

Mekonnen says the risk of adverse health effects increases when black plastic products are heated, such as when containers are heated in a microwave oven, or when utensils are used on a grill or stovetop.

“(If) the lid of your thermos is made of black plastic, heating will increase the free volume of the polymer, which will also allow chemicals to leak into the drink,” Mekonnen said.

Gillis says using black plastic utensils in hot oil poses an additional problem. A 2018 study estimated that cooking with utensils such as spatulas contaminated with brominated flame retardants resulted in an average exposure of 60 nanograms per day.

“More research is needed regarding safe human exposure limits for brominated flame retardants, but regularly cooking in oil with black plastic can result in significant exposure,” Gillies wrote in an email.

“That said, if your black plastic putty knife is old, many of the brominated flame retardants have likely already leaked out, so ongoing exposure may be minimal.”

Using black plastic products at room temperature will likely minimize harmful health effects, Mekonnen said.

More regulation needed to reduce dependence on plastic

Much of the concern about black plastic, including the issues raised in the ChemSphere study, stems from poor recycling infrastructure and lax regulation.

Canadian legislation to ban single-use plastics ban takeout containers that contain soot, but not other harmful compounds found in products made from recycled black plastic.

Bhargava says EU countries have laws regarding the use of plastics from recycled electronics containing brominated flame retardants in new plastic products.

EU legislation limits the level of harmful flame retardants in consumer materials, and recycling of materials containing certain flame retardants above a certain limit is prohibited.

Canada currently banned “production, use, sale and import” of certain toxic chemicals, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) used as flame retardants in black plastic, under existing regulations such as Banning Certain Toxic Substances Regulations 2012.

Amendments to these 2012 rules, expected in the spring of 2025, “will further limit existing exemptions that allow the import of certain products, including processed products containing certain toxic substances, and expand the number of chemicals that are restricted,” according to the organization. environment and climate. Representative of Change Canada (ECCC).

Canada is also a party to the international agreement Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutantswhich prevents signatories from authorizing the extraction, processing, recycling, or direct reuse of certain prohibited compounds.

CBC requested comment from the Chemical Industry Association of Canada, which represents plastics manufacturers, but it declined to comment.

Bhargava says she is concerned about loopholes that allow recycled plastics originally used in electronics to find their way into kitchen utensils.

“There are many loopholes and lack of regulation in the recycling of these electronic products,” Bhargava said.

Mekonnen agrees more needs to be done.

“Current research shows that we need specific and targeted legislation to limit or ban the use of black plastic for food purposes,” he said.