Why you should discard black plastic spatulas and other homegoods

Some household products made with black plastics may contain high levels of cancer-causing, hormone-disrupting flame-retardant chemicals, researchers are warning.

While testing 203 of these products, including spatulas, food containers and toys, the researchers looked for flame-retardant chemicals often used in electric or electronic products. These products are commonly recycled into other items such as food containers.

They found that 85% of the products tested contained toxic, flame-retardant chemicals. The highest concentration was 22,800 parts per million, and the banned substance deca-BDE “was found at levels ranging from 5 to 1,200 times greater than the European Union’s limit of 10 ppm.”

“Major retailers must ensure the products they sell, from children’s toys to kitchen spatulas, are not introducing banned cancer-causing chemicals into our homes,” said Mike Schade, director of Toxic-Free Future’s Mind the Store. “As businesses introduce more and more recycled materials into everyday products, retailers must require suppliers to test them to ensure toxic chemicals aren’t hiding in these recycled plastics. Retailers must mind the store and prohibit these toxic chemicals in products, especially in recycled plastics.”

The study was published in the journal Chemosphere.