You probably don’t think twice about using that black spatula to flip pancakes or letting your kid play with that little plastic toy sword. But a new study says we should.

Researchers have discovered that many black plastic items, like kitchen tools and children’s toys, contain toxic flame retardants—the same chemicals used to fireproof electronics like TVs and computers. So how did parts of old electronics end up in things we cook with and hand to toddlers? Let’s break it down.

🔬 What the Study Found

The most shocking results came from a set of toy pirate coins used in kids’ costumes—they contained up to 22,800 parts per million of flame retardants. That’s about 3% of the toy’s total weight made up of hazardous chemicals.

Even black plastic sushi trays—yep, the ones your takeout comes in—were found to have high levels of decaBDE, a banned flame retardant linked to serious health risks.

🚫 Wait… Weren’t These Chemicals Banned?

Yes. DecaBDE was officially banned in 2021 by the EPA due to its links to:

• Hormonal imbalances

• Cancer

• Thyroid problems

• Neurological and developmental damage

• Immune system suppression