A recent study has revealed alarming levels of toxic flame retardants in black plastic materials used in everyday products like toys and kitchen utensils. These harmful substances are believed to have originated from recycled electronics. But how did components from discarded electronic devices find their way into items we eat with and give to children? Let’s take a closer look.

Results of the Toxic Black Plastic Study

Among the tested products, toy pirate coin beads used in children’s costumes showed the highest concentration of flame retardants, up to 22,800 parts per million. That’s a startling 3% of the toy’s total weight.

These dangerous chemicals are typically used in the casings of electronics like televisions. Researchers suspect these compounds ended up in consumer goods due to errors during the recycling process, leading to unintended contamination.

Even Food-Related Products Were Found to be Contaminated

The study didn’t just find these toxins in toys. Black plastic sushi trays were also found to contain 11,900 parts per million of decaBDE (decabromodiphenyl ether), a chemical from the PBDE family.

A 2024 report linked high levels of PBDEs in the bloodstream to a 300% increase in cancer mortality compared to individuals with low exposure.

Restrictions on DecaBDE

DecaBDE was fully banned by the EPA in 2021 due to its association with a wide range of health issues, including thyroid dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, cancer, neurological problems, developmental defects in fetuses, and immune toxicity.

Despite the ban, the study detected decaBDE levels between 5 to 1,200 times over the legal limit in 70% of the samples tested. It’s estimated that individuals using contaminated utensils could be exposed to around 34.7 parts per million of this substance daily.

What’s most troubling is that these chemicals are not supposed to be in circulation anymore.

Flame-Retardant Electronic Devices

Most households in the U.S. have over 20 electronic devices—smartphones, TVs, laptops, game consoles—all of which use flame retardants to minimize fire hazards. These chemicals are also found in furniture, car seats, carpets, yoga mats, and other common items.

Over time, flame retardants can escape into the air and settle on surfaces, including food and water, which we then ingest.