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How Styrofoam is Bad
for the Environment
.
.
Reducing
dependence on Styrofoam is the best way to decrease its production and effect
on the environment - look for products manufactured from renewable resources,
containing biodegradable materials, and those that are easily recycled
By Vijayalaxmi Kinhal
Although
many people have heard that Styrofoam is detrimental to the planet, few
understand how Styrofoam harms the environment.
Find
out the impact Styrofoam has on the planet to help you minimize the damage
caused by this material.
Styrofoam
Is Expanded Polystyrene
Styrofoam
has become such an accepted everyday product that people rarely stop to realize
that it is made from polystyrene, a petroleum-based plastic.
In
fact, Styrofoam is a trade name for expanded polystyrene (EPS), points out a
2015 BBC report.
It
explains that polystyrene beads are processed using chemicals that are steamed
and expand, creating the substance EPS.
It
gained popularity because it is lightweight; it's 95% air.
It
offers good insulation properties that keep products cold or hot, and keeps
things safe during the shipping process without adding weight.
However,
over the years information about harmful effects of Styrofoam/EPS on people's
health and the environment have been accumulating.
Environmental
Health Concerns
Environmental
health concerns start with the elements used to make Styrofoam. Styrene, for
example, is the one of the main ingredients used to make polystyrene. Though
the American Chemistry Council notes there are differences in polystyrene
(solid) and styrene (liquid), and while there are differences in the final
makeup, styrene is still part of polystyrene.
Possible
Carcinogen
The
International Agency for Research on Cancer had already established styrene as
a possible human carcinogen in 2002.
So
does a 2014 National Toxicological Program report on carcinogens (page 1) which
classifies styrene as "reasonably anticipated to be a human
carcinogen" and being linked to occurrence of leukemia and lymphoma
cancer.
Occupational
Health Hazards
Though
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on styrene does not yet
classify it as carcinogenic, it lists many occupational hazards for those who
are exposed regularly in the manufacture of products made with styrene.
Some
of the acute health effects experienced include irritation of the skin, eyes,
and the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal effects.
The
EPA report says chronic exposure to styrene leads to further complications,
including adverse effects on the nervous and respiratory systems, and possibly
the kidney and liver, as well as other issues.
It
also caused increased spontaneous abortions in women. Contact with liquid
styrene during the manufacturing process can lead to first degree burns
according to an NIH report.
Food
Contamination
Food
in Styrofoam containers can be contaminated by chemicals that leach into the
food, affecting human health and the reproductive systems.
This
is accentuated if people reheat the food while still in the container.
A
research study shows that styrene can leach out from EPS. Even the American
Chemistry Council admits that there is transmission of styrene from Styrofoam
to food, albeit in minute quantities.
So,
people using Styrofoam do get contaminated by styrene, and can suffer from its
health impacts.
The
Environmental Working Group (EWG) wants EPA to ban styrene as it has been found
in 40% of Americans.
As
the NIH report points out, containers are only one way that styrene can get
into human bodies.
Air
Pollution From Manufacturing Processes
Air
pollution due to proximity to industries that make Styrofoam are another
channel to get exposed to Styrene, according to the NIH report.
Many
of the chemicals used in the manufacturing process are toxic, and workers who
make them are at greatest risk.
Moreover,
emissions from these factories can pollute the air, and the liquid and solid
waste produced need disposal.
Hydrofluorocarbon
Past Use
HFCs,
or hydrofluorocarbons used initially in the manufacture of Styrofoam, were
released during production processes, although they have now been replaced.
However,
damage has been done as HFCs contribute to global warming.
Now
Styrofoam production uses carbon dioxide and pentane instead of that pollutant.
Benzene
Benzene
is another key ingredient used in making Styrofoam.
It
is considered a carcinogenic that is foremost an occupational hazard, even
causing leukemia in severe cases, according to EPA.
It
is a Volatile Organic Compound classified as a key pollutant by EPA, that is
mainly in air, but reaches soil and water when washed down by rain and snow.
It
can then enter underground supplies, because it can dissolve in water to some
extent, according to an NIH report.
Dioxins
Dioxins
are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) that are used in manufacturing
polystyrene.
Dioxins
cause immune and hormonal problems and affect fetal development as an
occupational hazard to workers exposed to it.
When
Styrofoam is burnt for energy or for disposal, it is released into the
environment leading to air pollution and health problems when inhaled by people
and animals.
Expanded
Polystyrene Is Non-Biodegradable
Styrofoam
appears to last forever as it is resistant to photolysis, or the breaking down
of materials by photons originating from a light source. Cleveland State
University states that it requires more than a million years to decompose.
Production
Rates and Recycling
According
to Scientific American, in 2014 a total of 28,500 tons of Styrofoam was
produced and 90% was used to make single-use cups, trays, containers and
packaging products.
Other
major uses of Styrofoam are as insulation boards for roofs, walls, floors in
buildings, and as loose packaging material called packing peanuts.
While
it can be recycled, the recycling market is diminishing. In many communities,
people are told that their recycling companies will not accept polystyrene
products.
Facilities
for curbside collection or drop off centers for packaging material and food
containers are not evenly distributed in the USA.
Those
that are recycled are remanufactured into things like cafeteria trays or
packing filler. Some states like Texas do not accept packaging peanuts for
recycling as they break easily and pollute the environment, so keep an eye on
what can and cannot be recycled if there is a center near you.
It
is difficult to recycle on a large scale due to its production process
according to the 2015 BBC report. And this has been the reason many cities and
towns are banning use of Styrofoam, according to a 2015 MSNBC report.
Resulting
Environmental Problems Due to Waste
The
amounts of Styrofoam waste that accumulates is colossal, as only 1% of
Styrofoam is recycled in California according to a 2016 Los Angeles Times news
report.
Problems
created due to large amounts of waste include the following:
· Styrofoam easily breaks into small bits. Small land
and aquatic animals eating these pieces die due to toxins and blockage of their
stomachs leading to starvation, according to Los Angeles Times.
· This, combined with the fact that Styrofoam is
lightweight and therefore floats, means that over time a great deal of
polystyrene has accumulated along coasts and waterways around the world. It is
one of the main components of marine debris.
· Given its porous nature it absorbs many other carcinogenic
pollutants in the sea water like DDT produced in other countries, according to
Los Angeles Times.
· Much of it sinks to the bottom of the sea where it
pollutes the seabed. When the fish eat toxic materials in Styrofoam and the
additional pollutants it absorbs, the chemicals bioaccumulate and can harm
people who consume this seafood according to the Los Angeles Times.
Non-Sustainable
Another
reason that Styrofoam is harmful for the environment is that it is made with
petroleum, which is a non-sustainable resource.
A 2016 Worldwatch Report notes that "About 4
percent of the petroleum consumed worldwide each year is used to make plastic,
and another 4 percent is used to power plastic manufacturing processes."
In
addition, petroleum production creates heavy pollution.
Alternatives
to Styrofoam
Coming
up with a suitable replacement for Styrofoam/EPS has been quite a challenge for
scientists, although there is hope.
· A company called Ecovative Design has created a line
of products product made from fungi that are Styrofoam-like and aspire to be a
more environmentally friendly replacement for structural components like
packaging material.
· There are many different bio-composite materials
available as insulation that can replace Styrofoam in construction.
· Reduce Styrofoam usage by foregoing single-use items.
Use or ask for paper cups instead of Styrofoam. Many coffee outlets, university
cafes and Slurpee retailers offer a discount when customers bring their own
mugs and cups. Some even offer the possibility of sharing mugs.
Make
an Eco-Friendly Choice
Reducing
dependence on Styrofoam is the best way to decrease its production and effect
on the environment.
If
you want to make eco-friendly choices to eliminate the use of Styrofoam, look for
products manufactured from renewable resources, containing biodegradable
materials, and those that are easily recycled.
Vijayalaxmi Kinhal is an ecologist. Her deep connection to nature
pervades her life choices. In her career of more than 25 years, she has
expertise through practical experience in organic farming and trade, research
in tropical forests, land restoration, and environment protection in India.
Vijayalaxmi has been a freelance writer since 2015 after moving to Germany with
her family.
Freelance Science Writer
Career
As a freelancer, Vijayalaxmi
has written about sustainability, organic agriculture, climate change,
geography, and alternative energy. Earlier she covered forests,
bio-architecture, and green living for reports and grant proposals as part of
her management duties in the non-profit sector.
Vijayalaxmi uses her writing
to bring information generated by scientific studies to the public sphere.
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