Back in October, chefs and kitchen enthusiasts were alarmed by a study that flagged toxic flame retardants in black plastic utensils and other household items. This research had many of us second-guessing our trusty spatulas and wondering about potential health risks.
The initial study published in the journal Chemosphere claimed to have discovered high levels of flame retardants in items such as kitchen utensils, food containers, and even toys. These chemicals have been linked to cancer and developmental issues, causing quite the stir among those who care about what touches our food.
The concern arose from recycling electronics containing these flame retardants, leading to unexpected exposure to these toxins in everyday items, including our kitchenware. However, a recent development has emerged: the researchers made a significant miscalculation in their data crunching, which means the findings might not be as alarming as initially thought.
Initially, it was reported that using black plastic kitchen tools could lead to an intake of 34,700 nanograms of decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) a day. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had banned decaBDE in 2021, giving weight to the study’s concerns. The researchers suggested that this amount was nearing the EPA’s established safe exposure limit.
To put it into perspective, the study noted that the safe reference dose for decaBDE is 7,000 nanograms per kilogram of body weight daily. For an adult weighing 60 kilograms, the reference dose calculated would be 42,000 nanograms a day, suggesting the exposure level was more than 80% of the EPA’s limit. But, here’s the catch: the math was wrong. The correct calculation should be 420,000, not 42,000 nanograms.
This mistake means the exposure from using black plastic is actually less than a tenth of the EPA’s safe limit. According to Megan Liu, the lead author, it was an oversight they regret, and they have submitted a correction to the journal. Still, Liu firmly believes that black plastic kitchen utensils aren’t entirely safe and encourages caution.
Liu emphasized that their conclusions remain unchanged despite the error. “Highly hazardous, cancer-causing products shouldn’t be in contact with our food,” she states. There are safer options available, and she notes that some products contained multiple flame retardants, not just decaBDE.
On the other hand, Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a toxicologist, pointed out that only around 10% of tested products showed contamination, which suggests that most black plastic kitchen items might not significantly increase toxicity risk for users. Jamie Alan, from Michigan State University, adds that the testing method doesn’t necessarily reflect real-life exposure since one would not typically melt these utensils down before using them.
In conclusion, while the recalculated risk seems lower, this study sheds light on yet another way we’re exposed to flame retardants daily—from electronics to furniture. Liu advises reducing the use of not just black plastic, but plastic in general, to minimize potential exposure to harmful chemicals.
Even with the new findings softening the initial scare, it’s wise to be cautious about the kitchen tools you choose. Awareness and knowledge empower us to make safer decisions for our homes and health.
Source: Yahoo
