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Friday, March 14, 2025

Styrofoam + Hot liquid (or fat, or acid) = cancer chemicals in your drink/food

 https://flavorycooking.com/what-temperature-does-styrofoam-leach/

Great... so I probably have a pound of styrenes and benzene in me now from the last 6 months of tea drinking. 

And DO NOT FREEZE -> REHEAT microwave styrofoam covered meat, holy crap. 

It is also worth noting that even if Styrofoam is not heated, it can still leach chemicals over time. This is because the styrene molecules in Styrofoam can slowly break down and migrate into food and drinks, especially when the Styrofoam is in contact with fatty or acidic substances. (((Yeah, try putting lemon juice on a styrofoam cup and see what happens... melts instantly. Obviously bad. And oily things definitely get stuck in there, too. )))

The main chemicals that can leach from Styrofoam are styrene and benzene. Styrene is a known carcinogen, which means that it has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Benzene is also a carcinogen and can cause a range of health problems, including anemia, bone marrow failure, and leukemia.

Probably what styrenes and benzene change you into. Courtesy: http://www.heyapathy-comics-art.com/body-horror.html

What Temperature Does Styrofoam Leach?

Studies have shown that Styrofoam can leach chemicals into food and drinks at temperatures as low as 40°C (104°F). However, the rate of leaching increases significantly at higher temperatures. For example, a study published in the Journal of Food Science found that Styrofoam cups leached styrene and other chemicals into hot coffee at a rate of 0.5-1.5 μg/mL at 60°C (140°F). Another study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health found that Styrofoam plates leached chemicals into food at a rate of 1.5-3.5 μg/mL at 80°C (176°F).


The Risks Associated with Styrofoam Leaching

The chemicals that leach from Styrofoam have been linked to a range of health problems, including:

  • Cancer: styrene, a chemical found in Styrofoam, has been linked to an increased risk of cancer
  • Neurological problems: exposure to styrene and other chemicals in Styrofoam has been linked to neurological problems, such as headaches and dizziness
  • Reproductive problems: exposure to styrene and other chemicals in Styrofoam has been linked to reproductive problems, such as birth defects and infertility

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