Spray foam is a two-component chemical system: Part A and Part B. Thank you! by Tristan Roberts. 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'. Styrofoam pollution is a major environmental threat. This, too, will pass, I know, but a recent US Department of Health and Human Services report provides greater cause for concern. My niece is a college student, and forget about the healthy snacks that my sister once plied her with — frozen blueberries, raw carrots and peppers, Greek yogurt. More commonly known as Styrofoam, polystyrene is a petroleum based plastic commonly used for crafts, packing and insulation. Oops! The compounds are also a concern in the dust created when the product is trimmed. Styrene poses the greatest danger to humans who are exposed to it in the workplace. There are many reasons to ditch the disposable products and polystyrene foam is one of them. Styrene causes lung tumors in several strains of mice. Customer Care |  Privacy Policy |  Terms and Conditions |  About Us, Copyright © 2021 Bottom Line Inc. 3 Landmark Square Suite 201 Stamford, CT 06901 You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Public Contamination. 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. The health concerns are great. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Even the more expensive brands contain some of the most toxic substances. “This is a problem, because polystyrene is very commonly used as disposable packaging for hot food and beverages” — and has been for many years! When volatile organic compound in the mattresses break down and release chemicals into the air, it is called off-gassing. EPA Raises Health Concerns with Spray Foam Insulation. Another cause for concern are the brominated flame retardants that are used on Styrofoam products. Start your 14-day free trial now – and start eating anti-inflammatory today! 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).. 90,000 workers are exposed to Styrene every year, causing variuos health issues. 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. They are also present in fire-fighting foams (or aqueous film forming foam; AFFF) used by both civilian and military firefighters. Styrene (a component of polystyrene) is a harmful chemical that can leech into food and drink. Foam is lightweight and is easily blown by wind or washed away by rain into water sources. 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. A lot of people assume that Styrofoam must be safe since it's often what our takeaway comes in… wrong! Styrofoam manufacture also uses hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which … Spray-polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation, growing in popularity, is under scrutiny from EPA. Environmental health concerns start with the elements used to make Styrofoam. What's a homeowner or builder to do? 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. Styrene, for example, is the foundational ingredient used to make polystyrene. Short-term exposure to styrene can cause eye, mucous membrane, and gastrointestinal irritation . Originally published May 16, 2011. To find out whether other food containers are made with polystyrene, look for the number 6 inside the recycling symbol. 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. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Formaldehyde: formaldehyde is not common in mattress usage. 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. 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. But styrene, the chemical building block of polystyrene foam, is linked to an array of health problems. You can recognize styrene foam cups at a glance. The primary health concern from the inhalation of carbon black involves the respiratory system. Environmental & Social Issues Impacts and Risks of Polystyrene. Updated by Paula Melton June 1, 2018. Is using these cups harmful to us chemically? Styrofoam poses serious health concerns for aquatic life and the general health of the planet, which is no surprise, given that it’s made of thousands of pieces of non-biodegradable plastic. 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. Composed of 95% air, Styrofoam is incredibly light. 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. Olga Naidenko, PhD, senior scientist, Environmental Working Group, Washington, DC. I also found the MSDS of an example Expanded Polystyrene Board, which does mentions off-gas issues.Though it only applies to large amounts of "fresh" polystyrene, being stored in a "confined, unventilated area". www.EWG.org. 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. 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." Spray-polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation, growing in popularity, is under scrutiny from EPA. Styrene, for example, is the foundational ingredient used to make polystyrene. 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. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 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. It determined that Styrofoam drinking cups leach Styrofoam into the liquids they contain. This substance is not safe for use in the U.S. since 2004 due to health concerns. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals found in many products, such as clothing, carpets, fabrics for furniture, adhesives, paper packaging for food, and heat-resistant/non-stick cookware. Our content is further subject to our Terms and Conditions. Now she and her roommates subsist on salty soups in Styrofoam containers that they heat in the communal microwave. Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as metabolic disorders (including obesity) and reduced fertility. by Tristan Roberts. Styrene has also been linked to nerve damage and hormonal disruption. The adverse health effects of styrene intensify when we heat or burn Styrofoam. Health concerns of memory foam. In the 12th edition of its Report on Carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) stated that styrene is “reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen,” and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified styrene as a “possible human carcinogen.” However, in spite of these classifications, polystyrene foam continues to be widely used for coffee cups, egg cartons, and salad boxes as well as disposable bowls, plates and trays. The Dangers of Using Spray Foam Insulation. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging - Your Online Guide to the Anti-Inflammatory Diet. It is broadly used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, and rubber. They are persistent (i.e., they do not break down) in the environment, and si… Get The Latest Health, Life & Money Trends. Annually, around 2.3 billion kilograms of Styrofoam end up in our landfills and waterways. 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