Eating From Foam Food Containers Is Risky Business: Thailand

[webfact]

Eating From Foam Food Containers is Risky Business

BANGKOK: -- The widespread practice in Thailand of using foam containers or plastic bags for “take away” food orders is a hidden health hazard, doctors warn. Heated food causes chemicals like styrene to leach into the food and end up absorbed by the body. Some chemicals are known carcinogens, so eating takeout food from foam containers should be minimized.

The type of foam generally used for takeout containers is Styrofoam, which is made from the black waste from the petroleum fuel distillation, says Dr. Weerachat Kittirattanapaibool, an environmental packaging specialist.

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Sytrofoam containers contain the chemical styrene, which has a molecular structure similar to estrogen hormone in females, Dr. Weerachat said. The problem is that any chemicals contained in the styrofoam will leach into the foods inside, especially if the food or liquid is hot.

The styrene is then consumed by humans along with the food. Although there are no definitive studies of the long-term effect of styrene and other chemicals, evidence suggest that years of accumulating traces of chemicals in the body may lead to diseases or even premature death.

Doctors suspect chemicals like styrene can cause symptoms of “brain fog” resembling Alzheimer’s disease. Exposure to styrene may affect mood and cause irritability, and result in females having irregular menstrual periods, Dr. Weerachat said. Statistically, a person who eats at least one meal daily from Styrofoam containers for 10 years will increase his cancer risk 6 times above normal, he said. Other studies suggest similar risks from the plastic bags also used for takeout foods.

There are 3 types of carcinogens in styrene, which in males increases the risk of prostate cancer, and breast cancer for women, he said. Both sexes have a higher chance of getting liver cancer, even if they do not regularly drink alcohol, he added.

Styrene is classified as a hazardous material in the United States, which recently listed it as a carcinogen. Pregnant women who eat foods packed in polystyrene boxes have a greater risk of having a child with Down’s syndrome, or born with deformed body parts, the doctor warned.

Full story: http://www.pattayada...risky-business/

-- Pattaya Daily News 2013-02-07

[Guest]

Sytrofoam containers contain the chemical styrene, which has a molecular structure similar to estrogen hormone in females, Dr. Weerachat said.

Well, this explains the man boobs. Huh! I was afraid I was becoming old and fat farang.

[dcutman]

Doctors suspect chemicals like styrene can cause symptoms of “brain fog”

Well, that explains everything, here I thought it was the education system.

[Thai at Heart]

Sytrofoam containers contain the chemical styrene, which has a molecular structure similar to estrogen hormone in females

What you trying to say doc? That eating from a styrofoam pack, can turn a give a man a dose of feminine hormone. What an accusation, if that were the case, Thailand would have a disproportionately large amount of men who want to be or act like women.

Can't possibly be the case.

[seminomadic]

I'm all for dissuading people from using plastic bags and styrofoam.

However, not having done or cited a definitive study, it'd be great to know where the statistics come from.

"Evidence suggests" is flimsy.

I could say "evidence suggests that an extremely high tolerance for noise pollution and a traffic congestion causes one to crave rice"

[daiwill60]

There have actually been loads of studies into the effects of Phthalates ( oestrogen mimicking compounds ) in the USA , especially their effects on the hormones of wildlife in and around the everglades of Florida. Here the investigations were carried out in response to increased numbers of alligators giving birth to deformed hatchlings and the presence of many infertile eggs, to name only one study.

Phthalates are compounds widely used in the plastics industry, to soften plastics, eg Plastic Bottles , plastic kettles, plastic bags etc etc etc and rightly stated do leach into the substances contained within them. One of the effects of males being exposed to Phtahlates is noted as being a development of female features such as enlarged breasts (among other side effects, like shopping more and wearing womens clothing and using handbags to carry more posessions) only joking here by the way.

I did a project on this back in the late 90's when studying my Environmental Science degree. No doubt this health bod in Thailand will claim it is a new discovery and that Thailand will do all it can to limit its effects, and be seen as do gooders, rather than try to discourage their widespread useage and disacardment every where.

Just noticed on the adds by Google banner at top of this page, that a load of ads have apperered for plastic food containers and packaging.

Edited February 7, 2013 by daiwill60

[lovetotravel]

An interesting article here:

http://www.blackherbals.com/dangerous_toxins_you_have_eaten.htm

And some of the environmental problems associated with manufacturing styrofoam:

http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html

Enough evidence to keep me away from it. I try to always use glass.

[Thai at Heart]

There have actually been loads of studies into the effects of Phthalates ( oestrogen mimicking compounds ) in the USA , especially their effects on the hormones of wildlife in and around the everglades of Florida. Here the investigations were carried out in response to increased numbers of alligators giving birth to deformed hatchlings and the presence of many infertile eggs, to name only one study.

Phthalates are compounds widely used in the plastics industry, to soften plastics, eg Plastic Bottles , plastic kettles, plastic bags etc etc etc and rightly stated do leach into the substances contained within them.

I did a project on this back in the late 90's when studying my Environmental Science degree. No doubt this health bod in Thailand will claim it is a new discovery and that Thailand will do all it can to limit its effects, and be seen as do gooders, rather than try to discourage their widespread useage and disacardment every where.

Thailand isn't about to wean itself off plastic bags and styrofoam anytime soon.

Just go and buy noodles for 5 and see the plastic generated. a national dish that requires, one for soup, one for noodles, one for chili, one for sugar, and one for vinegar x5 and one big one to pour i it all in.

[Locationthailand]

Well one thing for sure, the environment does not have a say in it and it is the most widely abused styrene consumer judging by the amount of these containers in the khlongs and on streets.

[chooka]

Aren't than banned in most countries?

[Debrae]

I'm all for dissuading people from using plastic bags and styrofoam.

However, not having done or cited a definitive study, it'd be great to know where the statistics come from.

"Evidence suggests" is flimsy.

I could say "evidence suggests that an extremely high tolerance for noise pollution and a traffic congestion causes one to crave rice"

Brilliant! Haha

[Debrae]

The quote by seminomadic is brilliant. Made my day, having a good giggle. Well said.

[dcutman]

There have actually been loads of studies into the effects of Phthalates ( oestrogen mimicking compounds ) in the USA , especially their effects on the hormones of wildlife in and around the everglades of Florida. Here the investigations were carried out in response to increased numbers of alligators giving birth to deformed hatchlings and the presence of many infertile eggs, to name only one study.

Phthalates are compounds widely used in the plastics industry, to soften plastics, eg Plastic Bottles , plastic kettles, plastic bags etc etc etc and rightly stated do leach into the substances contained within them.

I did a project on this back in the late 90's when studying my Environmental Science degree. No doubt this health bod in Thailand will claim it is a new discovery and that Thailand will do all it can to limit its effects, and be seen as do gooders, rather than try to discourage their widespread useage and disacardment every where.

Thailand isn't about to wean itself off plastic bags and styrofoam anytime soon.

Just go and buy noodles for 5 and see the plastic generated. a national dish that requires, one for soup, one for noodles, one for chili, one for sugar, and one for vinegar x5 and one big one to pour i it all in.

and when everyone is finished, leave it on the ground where they ate it, plus all the other trash generated from one meal.

I was just at the beach, in disgust.

[phosphorescent]

This has been known for a long time already. I've always had a sneaky suspicion about it contributing to the large numbers of shemales here.

[ratcatcher]

Most of the bargirls in Pattaya eat food from plastic and styrofoam containers and it doesn't seem to affect their horemoans.

[bigbamboo]

I'm all for dissuading people from using plastic bags and styrofoam.

However, not having done or cited a definitive study, it'd be great to know where the statistics come from.

"Evidence suggests" is flimsy.

I could say "evidence suggests that an extremely high tolerance for noise pollution and a traffic congestion causes one to crave rice"

Until I see it in The Nation I won't believe it.

[BradWilkins]

Sytrofoam containers contain the chemical styrene, which has a molecular structure similar to estrogen hormone in females

What you trying to say doc? That eating from a styrofoam pack, can turn a give a man a dose of feminine hormone. What an accusation, if that were the case, Thailand would have a disproportionately large amount of men who want to be or act like women.

Can't possibly be the case.

that explains it. i wondered why i saw so much styrofoam in pattaya

[BradWilkins]

yep dont eat the two minute noodles in the styrofoam cups .the noodles are also coated in a wax to keep them from sticking together which has also been proven to be very bad for the digestive system. it builds up in the body as it is not easily metabolised. maybe we can still sue mcdonalds for all those years they used styrofoam cups for their coffee.

[zydeco]

I also remember warnings years ago in the USA against using plastic and styrofoam containers in microwaves.

[geriatrickid]

yep dont eat the two minute noodles in the styrofoam cups .the noodles are also coated in a wax to keep them from sticking together which has also been proven to be very bad for the digestive system. it builds up in the body as it is not easily metabolised. maybe we can still sue mcdonalds for all those years they used styrofoam cups for their coffee.

Many items ingested do not need to be metabolized. They go from the mouth to the stomach to the gut and out. Try it with pumpkin seeds or a food with lots of oil. Wax, becomes malleable when warmed so at worst, It just makes the stool a bit gooey .

In any case, it would be interesting to know if the styrofoam containers in Thailand are CFC free. At one time asian producers were non compliant. Third world pass and all that, Same reason why China, Thailand and India didn't have the same burden under the Kyota accords as did countries like Canada & Australia.

[scotto]

Well if you coated styrene cups in sugar and told thais they could eat them no more

rubbish on the ground problem solved

[hellodolly]

In the 89s when I was a scout leader we knew Styrofoam had negative properties but used them any how. How ever we tought the boys to never throw them in the fire as the smoke would harm them. Here we are 30 years later and Thailand is just discovering there is a poison in them.

[daiwill60]

There have actually been loads of studies into the effects of Phthalates ( oestrogen mimicking compounds ) in the USA , especially their effects on the hormones of will live in and around the everglades of Florida. Here the investigations were carried out in response to increased numbers of alligators giving birth to deformed hatchlings and the presence of many infertile eggs, to name only one study. Phthalates are compounds widely used in the plastics industry, to soften plastics, eg Plastic Bottles , plastic kettles, plastic bags etc etc etc and rightly stated do leach into the substances contained within them. I did a project on this back in the late 90's when studying my Environmental Science degree. No doubt this health bod in Thailand will claim it is a new discovery and that Thailand will do all it can to limit its effects, and be seen as do gooders, rather than try to discourage their widespread useage and disacardment every where.

Thailand isn't about to wean itself off plastic bags and styrofoam anytime soon. Just go and buy noodles for 5 and see the plastic generated. a national dish that requires, one for soup, one for noodles, one for chili, one for sugar, and one for vinegar x5 and one big one to pour i it all in.

yes and 4 plastic spoons in every pk of yogurt, despair!!!!

[toenail]

Yes, Ma Ma noodles as such takes 3-4 times to digest as natural, homemade noodles.(This is due to the preservatives, and all the other chemicals put into the noodles ...and that doesn't include the high salt content) When I see Thais eat this all the time, I just cringe; for, they would be better off to buy something off a vendor. (yes, I am also jerking my health around by eating processed foods with transfats-another "evil doer" in the food industry.)

[daiwill60]

yep dont eat the two minute noodles in the styrofoam cups .the noodles are also coated in a wax to keep them from sticking together which has also been proven to be very bad for the digestive system. it builds up in the body as it is not easily metabolised. maybe we can still sue mcdonalds for all those years they used styrofoam cups for their coffee.

Many items ingested do not need to be metabolized. They go from the mouth to the stomach to the gut and out. Try it with pumpkin seeds or a food with lots of oil. Wax, becomes malleable when warmed so at worst, It just makes the stool a bit gooey . In any case, it would be interesting to know if the styrofoam containers in Thailand are CFC free. At one time asian producers were non compliant. Third world pass and all that, Same reason why China, Thailand and India didn't have the same burden under the Kyota accords as did countries like Canada & Australia.

I think they are now as are now , as are most countries , but maybe not all ???

[daiwill60]

Most of the bargirls in Pattaya eat food from plastic and styrofoam containers and it doesn't seem to affect their horemoans.

Agreed to some extent, but it is a long term effect and on their offspring as well.

But have you ever thought why there is such a high proportion of lady boys in SE Asia ?? that begs a question in light of my knowledge of this subject for many a year, of this and also something I have pondered for sometime.

[daiwill60]

Actually in light of this i have just had a really horrifying thought about this , what about all the plastic bags used to directly drink soft drinks from , like pepsi and coke , both of which are acidic and will as consequence release more of these compounds into the digestive system . also the inside of tin cans as i remeber is also a risk as it it lined with a coating containing phthalates. Scary stuff , but i stil drank 4 cans of chang tonight , Therein lies another risk , Formaldehyde or not in Chnag and many other beers, a rumour or not???

[attrayant]

yep dont eat the two minute noodles in the styrofoam cups .the noodles are also coated in a wax to keep them from sticking together which has also been proven to be very bad for the digestive system. it builds up in the body as it is not easily metabolised.

Bunk. http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/noodles.asp

[FritsSikkink]

An interesting article here:

http://www.blackherb..._have_eaten.htm

And some of the environmental problems associated with manufacturing styrofoam:

http://www.earthreso...-styrofoam.html

Enough evidence to keep me away from it. I try to always use glass.

Don't know any take away restaurant that gives you your food in a glass.

[daiwill60]

funny, but a friend in Bermuda just posted this on FB

http://www.causes.com/actions/1727080-ban-toxic-plastic-chemical-bpa-from-food-drink-containers?recruiter_id=166484843&reposter=621438&utm_campaign=invite&utm_medium=wall&utm_source=fb