Black plastic kitchen utensils may contain harmful flame retardants

A new study reveals that black plastic kitchen utensils often contain toxic flame retardants, likely due to the recycling of electronic waste, posing significant health risks such as cancer and hormone disruption.

Ekta Batra reports for CNBC-TV18.


In short:

  • A study found 85% of black plastic kitchen utensils tested contain harmful flame retardants, including decaBDE, exceeding safety limits.
  • These chemicals originate from e-waste recycling, contaminating household items like kitchenware and children's toys.
  • Experts recommend using alternatives like glass or stainless steel and avoiding heating food in black plastic containers.

Why this matters:

Toxic flame retardants in everyday items could pose hidden health dangers, with consumers unaware of their exposure. Stricter regulations and better recycling practices are needed to prevent further contamination of household goods.

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About the author(s):

EHN Curators
EHN Curators
Articles curated and summarized by the Environmental Health News' curation team. Some AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight, fact checking and editing.

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