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A recent study has revealed alarming levels of toxic flame retardants in black plastic materials used in everyday products like toys and kitchen utensils. These harmful substances are believed to have originated from recycled electronics. But how did components from discarded electronic devices find their way into items we eat with and give to children? Let’s take a closer look.
Results of the Toxic Black Plastic Study
Among the tested products, toy pirate coin beads used in children’s costumes showed the highest concentration of flame retardants, up to 22,800 parts per million. That’s a startling 3% of the toy’s total weight.
These dangerous chemicals are typically used in the casings of electronics like televisions. Researchers suspect these compounds ended up in consumer goods due to errors during the recycling process, leading to unintended contamination.
