Chemosphere October 2024 PMID 39271080

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling.

Megan Liu, Sicco H Brandsma, Erika Schreder

Mentions

453
Peak: 22 in Nov 2024
across 7 sources since Oct 2024

Extended reach

126,351
potential audience

Total likes

324

Video views

5,696

Mentions per month

Oct 2024 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News384 articles
  • X / Twitter32 posts
  • Blogs22 articles
  • Bluesky7 posts
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collective discourse reflects a general agreement that the study raises important health concerns, with posts emphasizing how black plastics from recycled e-waste often contain hazardous flame retardants. The tone varies from cautious curiosity to alarm, exemplified by comments about food safety risks and calls for more scrutiny, indicating high interest and potential for meaningful impact on consumer behavior and regulations.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the concerns raised by the study about harmful flame retardants in household plastics, suggesting partial but cautious agreement.

InterestHigh interest

Many posts highlight the relevance of the topic, especially the health risks associated with black plastics, indicating high interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Discussions include references to corrections, potential health implications, and links to further research, showing active engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

The widespread sharing of links, corrections, and reactions to the study suggest these discussions are influencing awareness and concern about plastic safety.

Abstract in brief

  • Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely used in electronics to prevent fires, but they pose serious health risks, including cancer and hormonal disruptions.
  • A study analyzed 203 black plastic household products in the U.S. and found that 85% contained harmful flame retardants, with concentrations reaching up to 22,800 mg/kg.
  • Products made from styrene-based plastics (common in electronics) had significantly higher levels of flame retardants compared to those made from polypropylene and nylon, raising concerns about potential exposure through everyday items like kitchen utensils.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Dr. Lutz Böhm
@DrLutzBoehm · X

Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott hergestellt wird, der eben diesen Stoff enthält. Hier der Link zur Studie 2/3 https://t.co/BiBCx6LVY2 https://t.co/qkR6ZQ8ky6

Oct 31, 2024 · 164 likes · 11 shares · 11,026 followers View post →
simaobacamart
@simaobacamart · X

@WeiseFranklin @NicholasFlorko É por isso que eu preparo todos os meus alimentos, 100% orgânicos! Com meu jogo de panelas teflon e meus utensílios de plástico preto

Nov 2, 2024 · 11 likes · 1,367 followers View post →
yumi @gj
@ygjumi · X

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.co/S3gsN3NSge https://t.co/zL7c4NqOWD

Nov 2, 2024 · 8 likes · 5 shares · 12,727 followers View post →
vivekgani.bsky.social
@vivekgani.bsky.social · Bluesky

Paper linked from article on black plastics and BFRs / OPFRs: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... -> pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/271852/1-s2.... examples and tables from paper:

Oct 12, 2024 · 8 likes · 4 shares View post →
Build Soil, Collect Water, Emerge from the Ashes.
@buildsoil.bsky.social · Bluesky

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Oct 27, 2024 · 6 likes · 6 shares View post →
Mathieu M.J.E. Rebeaud
@chercheurjuteux.com · Bluesky

Tiens une étude qui a reçu beaucoup de couverture médiatique récemment: "From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling" www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Dec 23, 2024 · 5 likes · 2 shares View post →

All mentions

@jellyrole
@jellyrole1 · X

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling. Posted by Lionel Waldo DeCuir https://t.co/WyQfOPa0pt

Mar 9, 2025 · 393 followers View post →
Anne Huang
@drannehuang · X

Link to the original study (now corrected) that generated headline warnings on exposure to flame retardants in food containers or kitchen utensils made with recycled black plastics. https://t.co/asFfOqIYf5 https://t.co/i3SDa3Gymk

Jan 11, 2025 · 1,776 followers View post →
Anne Huang
@drannehuang · X

Corrigendum to ‘From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling’ [Chemosphere 365 (2024) 143319] https://t.co/lu52mjAPSi https://t.co/xdROviU5Yc

Jan 11, 2025 · 1 like · 1,776 followers View post →
Alan Watson
@Alan_Watson_ · X

@zaruk @the_firebreak Nobody has 'retracted' the research (Doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143319). A small correction has been posted (Doi:0.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143903) but the conclusions remain unchanged. Nobody needs, or wants, hazardous persistent organic pollutants in their spatulas or toys. https://t.co/Y0JJnGMEvs

Jan 7, 2025 · 1,467 followers View post →
surajworld.bsky.social
@surajworld.bsky.social · Bluesky

Scientists From ‘Black Kitchen Plastic’ Study Correct Major Error When a new paper appeared in the journal Chemosphere this fall, it sparked a web-wide panic. The paper, titled "From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling,"…

Dec 25, 2024 View post →
Mathieu M.J.E. Rebeaud
@chercheurjuteux.com · Bluesky

Tiens une étude qui a reçu beaucoup de couverture médiatique récemment: "From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling" www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Dec 23, 2024 · 5 likes · 2 shares View post →
kim_harding ✅
@kim-harding.mastodon.scot.ap.brid.gy · Bluesky

Corrigendum to ‘From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling’ [Chemosphere 365 (2024) 143319]

Dec 16, 2024 View post →
iHeard STL
@iheard_stl · X

Have you heard about black plastics containing banned toxic chemicals? A study found that 70% of black-colored plastics tested contain banned toxic chemicals. [The study was updated on December 15 to correct a math error] Read the study at: https://t.co/msjfFeOCQU? #iHeardSTL https://t.co/FpaGnnUCO9

Dec 16, 2024 · 1 like · 66 followers View post →
vivekgani.bsky.social
@vivekgani.bsky.social · Bluesky

Apparently there's a typo in the report "From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling" many were talking about in regards to black plastic in spatulas, toys etc. nationalpost.com/news/canada/... (h/t bsky.app/profile/rive...)

Dec 15, 2024 · 2 likes · 3 shares View post →
NYSBA Env & Energy
@NYSBAEELS · X

New research discovered that black #plastics found in kitchen utensils, toys, and more may be contaminated with #hazardous materials that cause health concerns. #Pollution https://t.co/uGbXK0gMaP

Dec 6, 2024 · 317 followers View post →
Bigo
@phifeli · X

RT @cackerman21: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https…

Nov 26, 2024 · 1 share · 2,397 followers View post →
cackerman21
@cackerman21 · X

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.co/KnFYHfUo2j #BlackPlastic https://t.co/zHeNL9AZPH

Nov 20, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 389 followers View post →
TylerDurden_17
@TylerDurden_17 · X

@FredsFarm247 https://t.co/8vgJ5dDQTm

Nov 14, 2024 · 1,132 followers View post →
Agingdoc
@agingdoc1 · X

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.co/EFofUTpMjz https://t.co/2bJzpPvKAA

Nov 10, 2024 · 2 likes · 41,620 followers View post →
Andreas Gies
@GiesAndreas · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 6, 2024 · 11 shares · 468 followers View post →
Corinne Scown
@cdscown · X

@gwhuber2 Speaking of food contact materials, that paper on black plastics containing flame retardants has freaked out many of my colleagues at the lab (I am reserving judgement until I have time to read the paper carefully). Any thoughts? https://t.co/ZYOB67inDe

Nov 4, 2024 · 1 like · 986 followers View post →
chidu
@ucvRGJX5GmgSRh9 · X

RT @ygjumi: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.c…

Nov 4, 2024 · 5 shares · 205 followers View post →
ハニプリ〜7/20 PRISMMOON
@vegetanpul · X

RT @ygjumi: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.c…

Nov 3, 2024 · 5 shares · 2,914 followers View post →
みちる
@CNRw3IprxC10714 · X

RT @ygjumi: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.c…

Nov 3, 2024 · 5 shares · 96 followers View post →
yumi @gj
@ygjumi · X

RT @ygjumi: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.c…

Nov 3, 2024 · 5 shares · 12,727 followers View post →
猫やで
@7YzzjuywccS3RwK · X

RT @ygjumi: From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.c…

Nov 2, 2024 · 5 shares · 1,014 followers View post →
simaobacamart
@simaobacamart · X

@WeiseFranklin @NicholasFlorko É por isso que eu preparo todos os meus alimentos, 100% orgânicos! Com meu jogo de panelas teflon e meus utensílios de plástico preto

Nov 2, 2024 · 11 likes · 1,367 followers View post →
yumi @gj
@ygjumi · X

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.co/S3gsN3NSge https://t.co/zL7c4NqOWD

Nov 2, 2024 · 8 likes · 5 shares · 12,727 followers View post →
Aufklärung
@Homoeopathie_D · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 1, 2024 · 11 shares · 1,044 followers View post →
Jürgen Sasse
@DeeJaySas · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 1, 2024 · 11 shares · 887 followers View post →
Juergen Wagner
@wagjuer · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 1, 2024 · 11 shares · 6,953 followers View post →
1Summertime2
@1Summertime2 · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 1, 2024 · 11 shares · 1,861 followers View post →
Helga Stigler
@hesti5759 · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 1, 2024 · 11 shares · 1,769 followers View post →
datenwolf – here to witness Τwitter's death
@datenwolf · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 1, 2024 · 11 shares · 1,190 followers View post →
Holger Danske - @HDV1.bsky.social
@Holger_Danske_V · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Nov 1, 2024 · 11 shares · 577 followers View post →
Ralph W. Eisermann
@Rabautius · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Oct 31, 2024 · 11 shares · 1,459 followers View post →
☀️ Christopher Schrage
@nixus_nrw · X

RT @DrLutzBoehm: Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott…

Oct 31, 2024 · 11 shares · 1,758 followers View post →
Dr. Lutz Böhm
@DrLutzBoehm · X

Wie es da reinkommt ist schon kurios, nämlich dadurch, dass dieses schwarze Küchenplastik häufig aus altem Elektroschrott hergestellt wird, der eben diesen Stoff enthält. Hier der Link zur Studie 2/3 https://t.co/BiBCx6LVY2 https://t.co/qkR6ZQ8ky6

Oct 31, 2024 · 164 likes · 11 shares · 11,026 followers View post →
Miguel Angel Grullon C.
@miguel78910 · X

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling. https://t.co/6kI29trptZ https://t.co/NGNebFlLSI

Oct 27, 2024 · 1 like · 2,804 followers View post →
Build Soil, Collect Water, Emerge from the Ashes.
@buildsoil.bsky.social · Bluesky

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Oct 27, 2024 · 6 likes · 6 shares View post →
Saeed Doroudiani, MSc/PhD, PEng
@SaeedDoroudiani · X

flame-retardant #polymer additives not just used in electronics materials, but in all applications, esp. #building #materials to make them safer in fire events #health #safety --- From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household... https://t.co/f37Kt51Yw2

Oct 18, 2024 · 927 followers View post →
vivekgani.bsky.social
@vivekgani.bsky.social · Bluesky

Paper linked from article on black plastics and BFRs / OPFRs: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... -> pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/271852/1-s2.... examples and tables from paper:

Oct 12, 2024 · 8 likes · 4 shares View post →
Satadru Pramanik
@satmandu.bsky.social · Bluesky

Anyone w/ domain knowledge have thoughts on the food-safety dangers from black plastic laid out by this study? pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39271080/ People Are Tossing [Black] Plastic Cooking Utensils After a New (Disturbing) Study | The Kitchn www.thekitchn.com/black-plasti...

Oct 4, 2024 View post →
IFFN
@iffnmanchester · X

From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling https://t.co/Kq8lK04a9R

Oct 2, 2024 · 4,228 followers View post →