A widely reported study claiming that black plastic household items, including kitchen utensils, contain toxic flame retardants has been corrected after a mathematical error was discovered. The original study published in the scientific journal Chemosphere estimated alarming levels of the toxin in these items and suggested it could pose a risk to human health.
However, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, identified a mistake in the study. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit of this toxin is 7,000 nanograms per kilogram of body weight per day, but researchers incorrectly calculated it as 42,000 nanograms.
The corrected study notes that the error does not affect its overall conclusion. While the findings are still concerning, Schwarcz suggests that the actual risk is not significant enough to warrant panic or action such as discarding black plastic kitchen items. He emphasizes that there should be no flame retardants in these items.
Source: https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/throw-away-black-spatulas-sf-19986362.php