There can be a cough and slight changes in lung activity, but there is no known correlation between carbon black and cancer or any other body systems. Composed of 95% air, Styrofoam is incredibly light. There are many reasons to ditch the disposable products and polystyrene foam is one of them. Then, too, every day we are bombarded with a multitude of toxins in the environment. Styrofoam isn't just bad for the environment; it's bad for your health. EPA Raises Health Concerns with Spray Foam Insulation. Short-term exposure to styrene can cause eye, mucous membrane, and gastrointestinal irritation . Research suggests that these chemicals may have negative environmental and health effects. All rights reserved. Eye Health: Top Doc’s Integrated Approach, Face Value: Investing in Metals and Money. Based on what we now know, you’re probably safe using styrene foam cups for cold drinks, but I wouldn’t use them for hot coffee or tea, and I would avoid using plastic containers for hot foods. Styrofoam Cups/Polystyrene Are Dangerous To Your Health The iconic white coffee cup and clamshell take-out containers we all know so well are not REALLY Styrofoam, so let’s make that clear from the beginning. Polystyrene foam cups contain styrene – a chemical compound that is increasingly suspect. Polystyrene, commonly referred to as Styrofoam™, is extremely difficult to dispose of properly, and it releases dangerous styrene into virtually all living creatures. cups since you landed here. The adverse health effects of styrene intensify when we heat or burn Styrofoam. Bottom Line, Inc. publishes the opinions of expert authorities in many fields These opinions are for educational and illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as either individual advice or as a substitute for legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services intended to suit your specific personal needs. Styrofoam manufacture also uses hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which … ©Copyright 2021 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. “Evidence indicates that all blowing agents currently used or proposed in connection with the manufact… Styrene causes lung tumors in several strains of mice. When volatile organic compound in the mattresses break down and release chemicals into the air, it is called off-gassing. But styrene, the chemical building block of polystyrene foam, is linked to an array of health problems. According to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for TRYMER(TM) 3000 Rigid Polyisocyanurate Insulation, there should be no problems (for this specific product anyway).. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Public Contamination. The health concerns are great. Styrene isn’t known to leach out of hard plastics, but some evidence suggests that it can leach out of foam food containers and cups when food or drinks are hot – not when they’re cold. The National Resources Defense Council notes that polystyrene foam from coffee cups and other food containers are clogging landfills and turning up in the ocean, where sea birds and marine animals swallow it. Environmental health concerns start with the elements used to make Styrofoam. “Trace amounts of styrene as well as various chemical additives in polystyrene migrate into food, which increases significantly in hot liquids,” explains Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org). The fact that styrene can adversely affect humans in a number of ways raises serious public health and safety questions regarding its build-up in human tissue. Oops! Styrofoam TM not only poses a threat to human health, but can also be harmful to the environment. Environmental health concerns start with the elements used to make Styrofoam. It is broadly used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, and rubber. What's a homeowner or builder to do? Our content is further subject to our Terms and Conditions. The end result is that the styrene foam containers blow away, often into the ocean, where they don’t disintegrate. That doesn’t make the items I’m talking about any less dangerous, as you’ll see below, but it’s important to clarify what we are talking about. These health issues can include lung damage, asthma, sensitization, respiratory and breathing problems… It all adds up… so now, are you willing to accept toxic industrial chemicals in your soup? According to the EPA: “Homeowners who are exposed to isocyanates and other spray foam chemicals in vapours, aerosols, and dust during or after the installation process “run the risk of developing asthma, sensitization, lung damage, other respiratory and breathing problems, and skin and eye irritation." Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as metabolic disorders (including obesity) and reduced fertility. They are persistent (i.e., they do not break down) in the environment, and si… Reducing exposure to cancer-causing agents is something we all want, but it takes knowledge and action on each person’s part to achieve that. Reason Foam Fails #7: Unhealthy Off-Gassing & Dust Spray foam throws off two forms of toxic poison: off-gassing of the volatile organic compounds and uncured chemical dust. Health Effects. Urethane foam is everywhere — it’s under your carpet, in your furniture and your bed, in your walls, on the soles of your shoes and in your athletic helmet. Polystyrene (solid and foam) is widely used to protect consumer products. Environmental health experts have questioned the assumption of spray foam’s safety and believe more research is necessary to prove that it isn’t hazardous to human health. More commonly known as Styrofoam, polystyrene is a petroleum based plastic commonly used for crafts, packing and insulation. “It is in the interest of the health, safety, and welfare of all who live, work, and do business in the City that the amount of litter on the public streets, parks, public places, and open spaces be reduced.” 2. Health Care Mattress | Quality Memory Foam Products. To find out whether other food containers are made with polystyrene, look for the number 6 inside the recycling symbol. Using your own coffee cup or mugs for your drinks and your own containers for foods is better for the planet. Thank you! The cups apparently lose weight during the time they are at use. Health concerns of memory foam. Because polystyrene products are so common, many people assume they are safe, and that a government agency, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would not allow a health- threatening product to be marketed to the public. Styrofoam Cups/Polystyrene Are Dangerous To Your Health The iconic white coffee cup and clamshell take-out containers we all know so well are not REALLY Styrofoam, so let’s make that clear from the beginning. Originally published May 16, 2011. In addition to creating safety problems during production, many chemical additives that give plastic products desirable performance properties also have negative environmental and human health effects. Styrofoam’s Durability Is Bad for the Environment and for Humans. A lot of people assume that Styrofoam must be safe since it's often what our takeaway comes in… wrong! Styrene, for example, is the foundational ingredient used to make polystyrene. These effects include. 90,000 workers are exposed to Styrene every year, causing variuos health issues. Originally published May 16, 2011. Is using these cups harmful to us chemically? Styrene poses the greatest danger to humans who are exposed to it in the workplace. Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox, Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. What happens when you eat hot foods or drink liquids from styrofoam plates and cups is the styrene leaches out of the Styrofoam and into our bodies. Even the more expensive brands contain some of the most toxic substances. Foam is lightweight and is easily blown by wind or washed away by rain into water sources. Olga Naidenko, PhD, senior scientist, Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC. kg since you landed here. The Dangers of Using Spray Foam Insulation. It is used in the manufacture of a wide array of products, everything from boats, car and truck parts, to bath tubs and shower stalls with glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite plastics. The National Research Council in the U.S. says styrene - the key chemical component of foam cups and disposable food containers - can be 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen'. Customer Care |  Privacy Policy |  Terms and Conditions |  About Us, Copyright © 2021 Bottom Line Inc. 3 Landmark Square Suite 201 Stamford, CT 06901 More energy efficient than traditional fiberglass insulation, SPF insulation is used to create a moisture and vapor barrier in perimeter walls, crawl spaces and attics. A hard version of polystyrene is used to make plastic cutlery, yogurt and cottage cheese containers, cups and clear salad bar containers. Beyond that, styrene also has been associated with respiratory problems among workers exposed to it as well as with “styrene sickness,” a combination of headache, fatigue and feelings of drunkenness. But Gromer adds that memory foam doesn't do anything for sleep apnea or other sleep-breathing disorders -- and sleep disorders are the primary complaint of most her patients. The vast majority of spray foam customers are happy with their choice of insulation and report no negative health effects from living in a home insulated with spray foam. Now she and her roommates subsist on salty soups in Styrofoam containers that they heat in the communal microwave. Annually, around 2.3 billion kilograms of Styrofoam end up in our landfills and waterways. Get The Latest Health, Life & Money Trends. The okayed verbiage is that it is like a health checkup for your foam and that doesn’t contain a laundry list of known bad chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens. They are also present in fire-fighting foams (or aqueous film forming foam; AFFF) used by both civilian and military firefighters. CD and DVD cases, foam packaging peanuts for shipping, food packaging, meat/poultry trays and egg cartons typically are made with polystyrene to protect against damage or spoilage. Formaldehyde on the skin may irritate the nose, eye, and throat. Another cause for concern are the brominated flame retardants that are used on Styrofoam products. In June, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of HHS, added styrene — the chemical used in the manufacture of Styrofoam cups and food containers — to its list of substances “reasonably anticipated” to cause cancer. hydrocarbons in Styrofoam manufacturing releases hydrocarbons into the air at ground level; there, combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form ozone, a dangerous air pollutant at ground level.ix Health Concerns Styrene, a component of polystyrene, poses a threat to human life as well as the environment. Environmental & Social Issues Impacts and Risks of Polystyrene. It's finally warm and cookout season is upon us. When you drink your steaming cup of coffee or spoon your chicken noodle soup or chili out of a Styrofoam cup, you also take in small doses of chemicals that leach from it. Everything you need to get started eating a healthful, satisfying diet is here – including eating and shopping guides, over 300 recipes, and an exclusive version of Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid! Polystyrene foam's light weight and insulation properties also make it a favorite choice for cups, plates and bowls at family picnics. The primary health concern from the inhalation of carbon black involves the respiratory system. hydrocarbons in Styrofoam manufacturing releases hydrocarbons into the air at ground level; there, combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form ozone, a dangerous air pollutant at ground level.ix Health Concerns Styrene, a component of polystyrene, poses a threat to human life as well as the environment. Styrene causes lung tumors in several strains of mice. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Styrene, for example, is the foundational ingredient used to make polystyrene. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added eight more substances to their list of known carcinogens a week after a World Health Organization study … 246 workers today. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, of the nearly 20 million pounds of waste styrene generated annually, about 17.8 million pounds winds up in the air and 1.7 million pounds gets into surface waters. You can recognize styrene foam cups at a glance. This leaching can occur even faster and to a greater degree when plastic is exposed to heat. Direct toxicity, as in the cases of lead, cadmium, and mercury; Carcinogens, as in the case of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) My husband and I like to have iced green tea during the day and use insulating foam cups because they keep the tea colder longer and do not sweat. It is broadly used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, and rubber. In honor of the warm weather, you may be stocking up on all your disposable plates, tables cloths, utensils. Studies have found that certain chemicals in plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the food and beverages we eat. Styrene (a component of polystyrene) is a harmful chemical that can leech into food and drink. Beyond that, styrene also has been associated with respiratory problems among workers exposed to it as well as with “styrene sickness,” a combination of headache, fatigue and feelings of drunkenness. It determined that Styrofoam drinking cups leach Styrofoam into the liquids they contain. After a tough winter, I’m sure everyone will be taking every opportunity to soak up the sun and enjoy the warmth! 1. Given no testing was conducted only time will tell on how effects of their use impact human health. 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