Black-colored plastic used for kitchen utensils and toys - Page 2

Even Food-Related Products Were Found to be Contaminated

The study didn’t just find these toxins in toys. Black plastic sushi trays were also found to contain 11,900 parts per million of decaBDE (decabromodiphenyl ether), a chemical from the PBDE family.

A 2024 report linked high levels of PBDEs in the bloodstream to a 300% increase in cancer mortality compared to individuals with low exposure.

Restrictions on DecaBDE

DecaBDE was fully banned by the EPA in 2021 due to its association with a wide range of health issues, including thyroid dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, cancer, neurological problems, developmental defects in fetuses, and immune toxicity.

Despite the ban, the study detected decaBDE levels between 5 to 1,200 times over the legal limit in 70% of the samples tested. It’s estimated that individuals using contaminated utensils could be exposed to around 34.7 parts per million of this substance daily.

What’s most troubling is that these chemicals are not supposed to be in circulation anymore.