LAST week’s article, which was also on the same subject, highlighted the Government’s impending ban on Styrofoam, its implications and opportunities for creativity and innovation in finding appropriate alternatives. This week, we are going to examine some of the effects of Styrofoam on our health and the environment. Our society at present has grown so accustomed to the everyday use of Styrofoam that people no longer focus on the danger that comes with it. Styrofoam does have useful applications, however, over the years, its careless use by consumers is increasingly causing harm to human health, aquatic life and environment. 

One of the major problems with Styrofoam is that it is made from Polystyrene a chemical that contains the substances Styrene and Benzene which are both considered carcinogens and neurotoxins that are extremely hazardous to human health.

Health Effects
Release of toxins – Hot foods or liquids, alcohols, oils and acidic foods start a partial breakdown of Styrofoam causing some toxins to be leached into our foods, which when eaten are absorbed into our bloodstream. In other words, Styrofoam is not heat stable and heat causes toxins to be released.
Affects reproductive system – according to studies conducted, women exposed to styrene vapors have demonstrated menstrual disorders and suffered from metabolic disturbances occurring during pregnancy.

Persons who are exposed regularly in the manufacture of products made with styrene may also experience:

Several studies suggest that, there may be an association between styrene exposure and increased leukemia and lymphoma.
Environmental Effects
Polystyrene is non-biodegradable and is a principal component of urban litter.
Styrofoam is not recycled because it is not economically viable and sustainable.
It takes up more space in the landfill than paper, and may eventually re-enter the environment when landfills are breached.
Styrofoam is harmful for the environment because it is made with petroleum, a non-renewable resource which contributes to air pollution and climate change.
Styrofoam is lightweight, flows in drains and canals, clogging them, thereby contributing to floods. It also travels down waterways and drains into the rivers, oceans and seas. This polystyrene then breaks down into smaller pieces that are ingested by aquatic life and other wildlife thus harming or killing them.
Given the increasing degradation of the environment and health issues associated with the use of Styrofoam more than 100 cities in countries around the world have banned its use and have turned to to healthier and biodegradable alternatives.

Sources:
www.greenliving.lovetoknow.com
www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/polystyrene/local
http://www.cleano2forkids.org/healthrisks.php