Rapid Fire
Black Plastic
- 26 Feb 2025
- 1 min read
Black Plastic, widely used in kitchenware and containers, faces scrutiny over potential health risks, raising concerns about its safety.
- About: Black plastic is often made from recycled electronic waste. Its black color comes from a substance called Black Carbon (short-lived pollutant, significant contributor to warming).
- Composition: Its composition may contain toxic substances such as brominated flame retardants, antimony, lead, cadmium, and mercury.
- These heavy metals are toxic at high exposure levels and banned in many countries. The flame-retardant decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) in black plastic poses potential health risks.
- Despite bans on certain chemicals, legacy plastics (cannot be reused or recycled) with harmful elements continue to enter the recycling chain.
- Concerns: While exposure through kitchen utensils is lower, concerns about cumulative chemical exposure remain.
| Read more: India as the World Largest Plastic Polluter |
