Risks from Styrofoam boxes

Styrofoam boxes are made from hazardous plastic materials.

The plastic materials used to produce these foam boxes are PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and PS (Poly Styrene), which are the two most dangerous types of plastics currently on the market. In the world, many countries have banned the use of these types of plastic for food-related purposes, but in Vietnam there are still no specific regulations. In fact, foam food containers are widely used everywhere because of their convenience.

In addition, recycled plastics can also be used to produce foam boxes. Most of these foam boxes are produced in small-scale facilities with poor hygiene and technical conditions. These are factors that increase the danger to users because recycled plastic comes from many different sources, even from hospitals and landfills... Through the rudimentary, manual and unsanitary washing process, this mixed plastic waste is crushed and cooked at temperatures of 150-200oC to create new plastic particles. When using foam boxes made from recycled plastics, we have an additional risk of bacterial contamination because at this temperature, bacteria have not been completely destroyed.

How do toxic chemicals enter the body?

Solution when purchasing

Currently, our country does not have any specific regulations or sanctions to control the widespread production and use of foam boxes as it is today. In this situation, the following measures can help you limit the risks from foam boxes:

•For vendors, use leaves such as lotus leaves and banana leaves, washed clean, to wrap foods such as sticky rice and dry foods instead of styrofoam boxes.
•Bring a lunch box when buying ready-made food.
•In case of emergency, when you buy food, you should immediately pour the food into a glass, ceramic, or porcelain bowl or plate before using.

Many studies have shown that when plastic comes into contact with food, especially hot food, sour food... toxic chemical molecules can leak into food or drinks. Specifically: only at a temperature of 70 - 80oC, some additives in plastic begin to dissolve into food; with sour foods such as tomato sauce or sour foods, the existing acids create pressure on the chemicals in the plastic, causing contamination in the food. You can do a small experiment at home to verify it yourself. Prepare a styrofoam box and half a lemon, the method is very simple: place the lemon upside down on the surface of the styrofoam box, after a while (1 - 2 hours) the contact surface between the styrofoam box and the lemon will sink, if it is longer, the styrofoam box may be punctured. This phenomenon proves that a reaction has occurred between the citric acid and the chemicals in the styrofoam box. If this box contains food, the compound will completely dissolve into the food and enter the body. These toxins will not cause immediate harm to health but will accumulate in the body causing dangerous diseases including cancer.

Tien Le

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguy-co-tu-hop-xop-185208761.htm