From e-waste to living space: flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling
Liu M, Brandsma SH, Schreder E (2024). Chemosphere.
What they found
Of 203 black plastic household products screened, those with more than 50 ppm bromine were analysed, and flame retardants were found in 85% of them at up to 22,800 mg/kg, including the restricted deca-BDE. Styrene-based plastics typical of electronics had much higher levels. The original abstract estimated median BDE-209 intake of 34,700 ng/day from contaminated utensils; a correction lowered this to 7,900 ng/day.
Read this too
Two corrigenda: Chemosphere 2025 (vol. 370; doi 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143903) fixed the reference dose for a 60 kg adult from 42,000 to 420,000 ng/day, so intake is an order of magnitude below it, not 'approaching' it; Chemosphere 2025 (doi 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144552) corrected a misapplied formula, lowering 34,700 to 7,900 ng/day. Authors say core conclusions stand.
- Sample
- 203 black plastic household products bought in the US
- What it can't tell you
- Products were bought to look for contamination, not as a random market sample. The 85% applies to the high-bromine subset. The exposure example contained two errors (see caveat), and even the original figure was below the US reference dose. No health outcomes. Author group includes an advocacy organisation (Toxic-Free Future).
- Funding
- Europe PMC lists the Marisla Foundation and the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund. Full text not checked.
- Topics
- Cookware, Recycling, Chemicals
- Checked against
- Abstract (Europe PMC, PMID 39271080); corrigenda as summarised by VU Amsterdam portal, Crossref and Retraction Watch (ScienceDirect 403), per our black plastic article