Recent panic over black plastic started with a math error

BDE-209 is still bad for you.
By Andrew Paul

Posted Yesterday
(Dec. 18, 2024)

Initial BDE-209 estimates were 12 times higher than the actual number. Credit: Deposit Photos
Deposit Photos

The authors of a study warning against health risks associated with a common plastic found in kitchen utensils and children’s toys have issued a major correction to their report. According to their December 16th announcement, researchers at the environmental health advocacy group, Toxic-Free Future, initially believed people are potentially exposed to decabromodiphenyl ether on a daily basis as much as 12 times more than they actually are. But, as the authors cautioned, even the vastly reduced measurement doesn’t change the fact that people shouldn’t be ingesting flame-retardants.

First commercialized in the 1970s, decabromodiphenyl ether (also known as BDE-209 or deca-BDE) quickly became a popular bromine-based flame-retardant plastic used in goods like TV and computer cases. Over time, however, research linked it to a host of health issues including cancer , reproductive problems, endocrine disruption, and neurological issues. Companies have since replaced BDE-209 with (possibly also hazardous) alternatives, while the European Union, China, and at least two US states have issued bans on the material.

The industry shift away from BDE-209 hasn’t stopped it from still sometimes entering households, however. As Toxic-Free Future’s study originally published in Chemosphere’s October 2024 issue notes, microscopic amounts of recycled black plastic containing the compound are sometimes detectable in common products like spatulas, shipping packaging, and even children’s toys.

“Companies continue to use toxic flame retardants in plastic electronics, and that’s resulting in unexpected and unnecessary toxic exposures,” added study lead author, Megan Liu, in an accompanying announcement at the time. “These cancer-causing chemicals shouldn’t be used to begin with, but with recycling, they are entering our environment and our homes in more ways than one. The high levels we found are concerning.”

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