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Disposable Plastic Food Container and Its Impacts on Health

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The Journal of Energy and Environmental Science. Photon 130 (2015) 618-623
https://sites.google.com/site/photonfoundationorganization/home/the-journal-of-energy-and-environmental-science
Original Research Article. ISJN: 4382-1729: Impact Index: 5.68
The Journal of Energy and Environmental Science
Disposable Plastic Food Container and Its Impacts on Health
Izhar Husaina*, Mesheil Alalyanib, Dr. Arif Habib Hangaa
a
Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mashayt, King Khalid University,
(KKU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A)
b
College of Applied Medical Sciences & College of Nursing , Khamis Mashayt, King Khalid University (KKU),
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A)
Article history:
Received: 01 April, 2015
Accepted: 05 April, 2015
Available online: 17 July, 2015
Keywords:
Disposable Plastic Food Containers, Health Hazards, Plastic and
Cancer, Bisphenol A (BPA), Styrene
Corresponding Author:
Husain I.*
Lecturer
Email: izharhusain ( at ) gmail ( dot ) com
Alalyani M.
Assistant Professor & Dean
Dr. Hanga A.H.
Assistant Professor
Abstract
Nowadays in every walk of life we use disposable
plastic cups, utensils. On one hand if disposable
plastic food containers are useful, on other hand it
threatens our health as all of these goods contain
hazardous chemicals. If these are scratched or
1. Introduction
Disposable plastic food containers like coffee and
tea cups, utensils and other house hold items are
very common in use in our day-to-day life if we are
at home or outside. The disposable plastic food
containers over shadowed the traditional glass and
metal containers like stainless steel, aluminum and
copper ware. The reason behind this, disposable
food containers are cheap, easily available and can
be carried out without any fear of breakage and
moreover it is used once so no need have cleaning
at all.
On one hand where these disposable food
containers made our life easy, simultaneously it
poses great risk on our health. A report from
National Toxicology Program of the U.S
department of the health and human service noted
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heated, these may leach chemicals. We aimed to
review and analyze the reports and studies
regarding the use of disposable plastic house hold
utilities and its health hazards. We searched
Cochrane library, PubMed, Google using
“disposable plastic containers and health hazards,”
“styrene,” “bisphenol A (BPA),” “disposable cups
and cancer,” It is found in reports that in disposable
food containers many toxic chemicals such as
styrene, BPA, formaldehydes are present. Studies
also suggest that the said toxic chemicals are
responsible for many types of cancer, hormonal
disruption in the human body. Further researches
are needed to make policy of production and selling
of these toxic articles and to create awareness
among masses.
Citation:
Husain I., Alalyani M., Hanga A.H., 2015. Disposable Plastic
Food Container and Its Impacts on Health. The Journal of
Energy and Environmental Science. Photon 130, 618-623
All Rights Reserved with Photon.
Photon Ignitor: ISJN43821729D784917072015
that two chemicals, formaldehyde and styrene, are
commonly found in these containers are known or
suspected carcinogens (National Toxicology
Service, U.S. Department of Health Human
Services, 2014). Disposable containers are also
made up of plastic, these plastic are also shown
leach toxic chemicals when heated ,polycarbonate
which leaches bisphenol A, Polystyrene which
leaches styrene or poly vinyl chloride (PVC) which
break down in vinyl chloride and sometimes
pthalates which can leach in to various chemicals
(Breast Cancer Fund).
1.1 Objective of Research
The objective of the study is to review and analyze
the various reports and studies related to the health
hazards of disposable plastic food containers and
recommend some measure to avoid and reduce this
risk.
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1.2 Justification of Research
Though there are few researches which emphasized
on health and environmental hazards of plastic use
as a whole but in this article focus has been given
to the health hazards caused by using disposable
plastic food containers as usually people use these
kind of articles without having proper knowledge
of its contents and awareness about its recycling
process. This review article also dissertate the
detailed list of various toxic contents of disposable
plastic food containers and their possible health
hazards. This research also recommends some
measures to avoid the adverse effects associated
with the usage of such food containers. It also
shows a path to government and health department
to make policy for awareness to reduce the risk.
2. Methods
Relevant publications have been taken from
PubMed, Cochrane library. We searched Google by
term using “disposable cups and health hazards,”
“bisphenol A (BPA),” “styrene,” “Styrofoam cups
and cancer,” “formaldehyde and cancer” singly or
in combination. We reviewed the publications and
reports retrieved from this search and selected
article by relevance to the health hazards of
disposable plastic containers. We reviewed the
article through September 2007 and did not exclude
any article on the basis of publication date due to
the lack of literature in this area. We included the
English language article only and an attempt was
made to cover all the possible chemical substances
found in plastic disposable food containers and
their adverse effects on human health.
3. Results & Discussion
Except two articles, most of the studies that we
found in favor of research are from newspapers
article and websites. One article discussed the
effect of Styrofoam, a chemical substance
commonly found in disposable plastic cups,
containers and food packaging, on health. Another
article showed the study of different type of plastic
and their adverse effects on health. Some other
reports were found from U.S government agencies.
Studies showed the various toxic chemical
substances such as formaldehyde, styrene,
bisphenol A, pthalates, dioxins and vinyl chloride
and their adverse effect on health.
3.1 Formaldehyde
The formaldehyde is a preservative which is found
in many disposable coffee cups and foam take-out
containers, and have been added to the federal
government’s list of known and suspected
carcinogens. According to the report of National
Institute of Health that formaldehyde has been
linked to both leukemia and a rare type of nasal
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cancer (National Toxicology Service, U.S.
Department of Health Human Services, 2014).
3.2 Bisphenol A (BPA)
It is a building block of polycarbonate plastic and it
is used in food packaging and canned food. BPA
exposure may disrupt normal breast development
and also cause breast cancer in later life. BPA is
also linked to have and an adverse effect on brain
development of girl child, if mother is exposed to
BPA during pregnancy. Researchers from Harvard
school of Public Health and Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention measured BPA level in the
urine of 244 mothers at the various times in
pregnancy and in their children at different times
after birth. They found that the mother who was
having high BPA level during pregnancy tended to
have 3 years old girl with more anxious and
depressed behavior and poor emotional control. But
the similar behavior changes were not seen in boys
whose mother was having high level of BPA and
the reason is still unknown. The researchers think
and guess that as BPA is endocrine disrupting
chemical and may acts like estrogen or anti-
estrogen so it may alter the effect of sex hormone
in girls. It is advised to the pregnant women to
avoid the BPA exposure by not using canned and
packaged food (Hatch, 2011; Harris, 2011).
3.3 Styrene
It can leach from polystyrene plastic and it is
commonly found in disposable cups and bowls,
Styrofoam food trays, egg containers, opaque
cutlery and carryout containers. International
Agency for Research on Cancer has classified
styrene as a possible human carcinogen. Studies
found that styrene increases the risk of cancer of
the pancreas and of esophagus among styrene
workers. Styrofoam is actually a brand name of
polystyrene. In 1986 The Environment Protection
Agency National Human Edipose Tissue Survey
has found styrene residue in of all samples of
human fatty tissues taken in 1982 in the U.S. The
migration of styrene from food containers and
packaging to human body through food is
documented in 1973 and 1976.In a single use of
polystyrene cup approximately 0.025 % styrene can
be transferred to the human body with hot or cold
beverage. If someone drinks water, tea or coffee
with Polystyrene cup four times a day for three
years he would consume one Styrofoam cup-worth
of styrene with his beverage.
It has been observed that styrene migration depends
upon fat contents in the food, heat, acidity and
presence of ethanol and presence of Vitamin A.
Soup Beverages that are higher in fats (Breast
Cancer Fund).
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3.3.1 Fat content
Styrene is soluble in fat and oil. The higher is the
fat content in the food, the higher the migration of
styrene into the food.
3.3.2 Heat
Studies have found that styrene tend to migrate
more quickly when food and drink are hot.
3.3.3 Acidity
It is also observed through studies that if food is
highly acidic the migration rate of styrene into food
is high.
3.3.4 Presence of ethano
Presence of ethanol increases the migration rate of
styrene into food as styrene is soluble in ethanol
which is commonly found in alcoholic beverages.l
3.3.5 Presence of Vitamin A
If food containing vitamin A comes in contact with
heat (such as microwave heat) Vitamin A degrades
in to m-xylene, toluene and 2, 6-
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dimythylnaphtalene. Toluene dissolves the styrene
and increases the migration rate of styrene into
food (Harris, 2011; OliveGreen Marketing).
As per the Foundation for Achievements in Science
and Education long term exposure to small quantity
of styrene can cause:
Low platelets count or hemoglobin values
Chromosomal and lymphatic abnormalities
Neurotoxic effect due to accumulation of styrene in
the brain tissues, spinal cord and peripheral nerves
which causes fatigue, behavioral changes like
nervousness, anxiety and other chronic disorder
related to nervous system.
Chronic exposure to high level of styrene can
damage the liver and nerve tissues. Extra caution
should be taken in case of pregnant women as it
affects adversely on developing body. As alcohol
can pass through placental barrier, this could be the
vehicle for the transmission of styrene monomer
into fetus. Study found that styrene can be
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transmitted through breast milk to the new born
(OliveGreen Marketing; Ricks, 2014; Hodgekiss,
2014).
3.4 Pthalates
Pthalates are group of chemicals which is
responsible for endocrine –disrupting. It is found in
Polyvinyl Chloride. Pthalates has been linked to
early puberty in girls, a risk factor for breast cancer
in later life. It also act as week estrogens (Breast
Cancer Fund).
3.5 Vinyl Chloride
It leaches from PVC manufacturing. It was one of
the first chemicals which have been declared as
known human carcinogen by National Toxicology
Program (NTP) and International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC).It has been linked to
increase mortality from breast cancer among
workers involved in the manufacturing of PVC
(Breast Cancer Fund).
3.6 Dioxin
It is also formed in the manufacturing of PVC. It
has been classified as known human carcinogen by
International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) and acts as endocrine disruptor (Breast
Cancer Fund).
British scientists warned that more than 170
dangerous chemicals have been used in disposable
food packaging and disposable containers.
According to studies the chemicals found in
disposable packaging and food containers cause
interference in sperm production, genital
malformation and hormonal disturbances.
Conclusion
As studies suggest that disposable food containers
contain toxic chemicals and when these come in
contact of hot food or drinks, the toxic chemical
present in these containers migrates to human body
through food and causes various lethal diseases and
disturbance in the human body like cancer so it is
better to avoid the disposable and plastic containers
when it comes to food containing and packaging.
Now a days when incidence of cancer and
hormonal diseases like thyroid are very common so
it is very necessary to spread the awareness about
the use and their probable adverse effect of using
these disposable and plastic containers. It is also a
high time for authorities to make some stringent
policy for the manufacturer of disposable and other
plastic food containers.
Research Highlights
This review is first of its kind which discusses all
the toxic and carcinogenic elements found in
plastic disposable utensils and food containers and
their adverse health effects.
This review advocates for the health policy for
manufacturing and using of disposable food
containers.
This systematic review gives a sequence to all
previous studies.
The findings demonstrate most consistently the
association between using plastic disposable food
containers and cancer incidences.
Recommendations
To avoid the harmful effect of disposable
containers either we should avoid their use or with
caution to reduce the exposure of toxic chemicals.
Usually disposable container and plastic packaging
carry a recycling symbol on it. Let's have a look on
different categories recycling symbols and also
some recommendations.

Table 1: Different categories of recycling symbols (Schuler, 2008)

PETE: Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for water, soft drinks and juice bottles.
HDPE: High density polyethylene used in opaque plastic like milk bottles and plastic bags.
V or PVC: Poly vinyl Chloride used in coconut oil and butter containers.
LDPE: Low density polyethylene used in plastic wraps.
PP: Polypropylene used in straw used for cold drinks, baby feeding bottles.
PS: Polystyrene used in coffee cups, egg and Styrofoam food trays usually used as disposable plates.
Others: It is used in clear plastic cutlery, plastic dinnerware and sports water bottles. If it is labelled as #7-
PC it is unsafe to use as it contains polycarbonate and it can leach bisphenol A (BPA).Other # 7 plastic like
polylactic acid (PLA),polyester, acrylic are safer choices as they don’t contain BPA.

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Do not use plastic containers in microwave oven:
Avoid using plastic containers in microwave
instead use glass or ceramic containers without
metallic paint. Microwave safe doesn't mean that it
can't leach toxic chemicals (Schuler, 2008).
Avoid cling wrap: Avoid the use of cling wrap over
the food instead use paper to cover the food
(Schuler, 2008).
Avoid using plastic baby bottles or use with
precautions: Avoid using plastic baby bottles as
much as possible as it may harm the health of
children, instead use stainless steel or glass bottles.
Plastic with # 7 is safer choice but avoid #7-PC as
polycarbonate contains BPA. If you have no choice
except #7-PC bottles never use hot drinks with it.
Water bottles #1 and #2 are safer for only one time
use. Discard scratched and torn bottles and do not
use harsh detergents to clean the bottles as it may
scratch the plastic which can leach toxic chemicals
(Schuler, 2008).
Avoid using PVC products and choose bio basic
plastic: Including toy and other materials made
from PVC is harmful so one should avoid and
instead use bio basic plastic like polylactic acid
(PLA) which is made up of corn (Schuler, 2008).
Policy Design: The government and department of
food safety should raise the suitable steps to have a
communication with manufacturers of disposable
and plastic containers to make them phase out of
toxic chemicals like BPA, polystyrene and
polycarbonate in disposable and plastic containers
especially used for food products.
One should also take extra caution in cleaning of
these containers and using in microwave oven to
avoid the harmful effect.
Limitations
There are few studies related to this area. Some
reports and studies taken from newspapers,
magazines etc. Very few studies have been found
specifically on disposable plastic food container
and its health hazards.
Authors’ Contribution and Competing Interests
Izhar Husain: This article is a result of my thought
process to promote the health through healthy
practices.
Mesheil Al Alyani: Co-author of the research.
Despite of his hectic schedule he managed to
contribute to this work with perfection and
dedication. Currently working as a Dean of College
of Applied Medical Sciences, and Supervisor of
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College of Nursing, Khamis Mashayt, King Khalid
University, K.S.A.
Arif Habib Hanga: Co-author and helped in
analysis of data and has aided immensely in the
success of entire work.
Acknowledgement
This review is an original work by authors. We
would like to thank the editor and anonymous
reviewers and referees for careful reading of this
article. Their valuable comments helped us a lot to
improve this and to find the answer various
questions. This work is not funded by any project
or any other funding means.
References
Baggett G., 1990. Styrene Migration into Human
Adipose Tissue.
Breast Cancer Fund. (n.d.). Chemical in Plastics.
Retrieved from http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-
science/environmental-breast-cancer-links/plastics/
Figge K., 1972. Migration of Additives from Plastic
Films into Edible Oils and Fat Stimulants. Food Cosmet
Toxicol, 6, 815 828.
Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education.,
Polystyrene Fact Sheet. Retrieved from
http://businessbarbados.com/green-business/the-dangers-
of-polystyrene/
Hatch, C., 2011. BPA during pregnancy may cause
behavior problems in girls. live science. Retrieved from
http://www.livescience.com/16684-bpa-pregnancy-
increases-behavior-problems-girls.html
Harris G., 2011. Government Says 2 Common Materials
Pose Risk of Cancer. The New York Times. p A1.
Hodgekiss A., 2014. Do foam cups contain cancer-
causing chemicals? Leading panel says styrene may be a
'human carcinogen'. Mail Online. Retrieved from
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2709577/Do-
foam-cups-contain-cancer-causing-chemicals-Leading-
panel-says-styrene-human-carcinogen.html
Institute for Local Self-Reliance., 1990. Are Styrene
Food and Beverage Containers A Health Hazard?.
Retrieved from
www.sustainableplastic.org/problems/plastic-impact-
human-health
Letha,(n.d.). Plastic Containers: Avoid 3, 6, 7. Asian
Health Secrets. Retrieved from
www.asianhealthsecrets.com/plastic-containers-avoid-3-
6-7/
National Toxicology Service, U.S. Department of Health
Human Services., 2014. 13th Report on Carcinogens
(RoC). Retrieved from
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/pubhealth/roc/roc13/index.html
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 Ricks D., 2014. Report: Chemical in foam cups might
cause cancer. Newsday. Retrieved from
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/report-chemical-
in-foam-cups-might-cancer-cause-1.8911237

Schuler K., 2008. Smart Plastic Guide Healthier Food

uses of Plastic. Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy. Minneapolis Minnesota. Retrieved from
http://www.iatp.org/files/421_2_102202.pdf
www.refractedradio.com/3-reasons-why-youre-likely-to-
get-cancer-and-its-right-under-your-nose/

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