Does your food delivery box have cancer-causing chemicals? Oncologist decodes a new study on recycled plastic | Health and Wellness News - The Indian Express

If you thought recycled plastic was safe, just pause awhile. Black plastic, the kind that you find in takeout and food delivery orders as well as some toys, contain cancer-causing and hormone-disruptive chemicals, according to a new analysis.

A recent report in the journal Chemosphere shows that a variety of household products made with recycled black plastic — including food service ware, kitchen utensils, toys and hair accessories — contain high levels of flame-retardant chemicals linked to cancer. Scientists in the US and the Netherlands found the highest concentration of these toxic chemicals in takeout trays, spatulas and beaded necklaces. They believe that flame-retardant chemicals released from certain electronics components, like television and computer casings, during the recycling process may be the source of these contaminants.

“These cancer-causing chemicals shouldn’t be used to begin with, but with recycling, they are winding up in household products where we don’t expect to see them,” said study co-author Megan Liu.

What are the damaging chemicals that raise cancer risk?

Manufacturers add flame retardants to electric and electronic products, specifically black-coloured plastics, with the goal of keeping consumers safe from fires. Now some of these have leached into recycled products. “What this study tells us is that this contamination is primarily linked to the recycling of electronic waste (e-waste), particularly from plastics used in the casings of electronics such as televisions and computers and that we need to be careful about this,” says Dr Ushma Singh, director, paediatric oncology and haematology, BMT, Andromeda Cancer Hospital.

“These findings raise significant health concerns because flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, thyroid and endocrine disruptions,” she adds. A 2024 study found that people with the highest levels of PBDEs in their blood were 300 per cent more likely to die from cancer than those with the lowest levels.

What also raised concern was the presence of banned flame retardants such as decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), in 70 per cent of tested samples, with concentrations up to 1,200 times higher than the permissible limits set by the European Union (EU).

“Styrene-based plastics used in electronic devices, such as TV casings, tend to have significantly higher levels of toxic flame retardants compared to other plastics like polypropylene or nylon, which are less commonly used in electronics,” adds Dr Singh.

Who is most vulnerable to recycled black plastic?

“Children are particularly vulnerable as they often come into prolonged contact with toys that could expose them to harmful chemicals through direct handling or ingestion. Furthermore, toxic chemicals in black plastic kitchen utensils could leach into food during heating, compounding the risk of exposure for households using these products regularly,” says Dr Singh.

The study also points out that current regulations are insufficient to protect consumers from exposure to these contaminants. “There is a need for greater transparency in the plastic recycling process to prevent flame retardants from entering household items that don’t require such chemicals. But it is better to opt for safer alternatives like wood and cloth for toys and stainless steel and glass for kitchen items,” advises Dr Singh.

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