The Dangers and Health Risks Associated With Black Plastic

New research suggests that black plastic is associated with health risks. Researchers found toxic flame retardants in many black plastic household goods.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

OK, people across the country are having discussions like one that took place last evening in my kitchen. We asked which black plastic items we might be using when we cook, like a spatula or a cooking spoon. What about the black plastic coffee maker? All this came after we heard of research that associates black plastic with health risks.

MEGAN LIU: Including cancer, hormone disruption, neurological effects and reproductive and developmental harm.

INSKEEP: That doesn’t sound good. Megan Liu is with the advocacy group Toxic-Free Future. And she cowrote a study published in the journal Chemosphere that found toxic flame retardants in many black plastic household goods.

LIU: The sushi tray that we tested had the highest level of deca-BDE, at a level of 11,900 parts per million. And that’s really surprising because deca-BDE is the chemical that has been banned in the United States and is associated with cancer.