- Chronic exposure to styrene, one of the main components in Styrofoam and polystyrene products, is thought to have adverse health effects such as irritation to the skin, eyes, upper respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems, among other problems. Both the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classify it as a possible human carcinogen.
- Many polystyrene products are food and beverage containers. When heated in a microwave, according to the Earth Resource Foundation, the toxic chemicals in the polystyrene products seep into the food or drink in the container. When ingested on a regular basis or in high quantities, these chemicals can have negative effects on the body and on overall health, such as the problems listed above.
- When you heat a polystyrene food container in the microwave or by other means, you should consider not just the toxins you may ingest, but also the toxins you release into the air. According to the Nordic Council, an intergovernmental collaboration among Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden created to study and monitor environmental and workplace hazards, the fumes created when heat is applied to polystyrene can contain aerosols, free radicals and other potentially dangerous chemical compounds, such as carbon monoxide.
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