The Use of Styrofoam Disposable Ware and the Consequences

Judy Lewis

National Chairperson of Education and Health

Disposable ware made of expanded polystyrene foam (popularly called Styrofoam) poses health risks to humans and is non-biodegradable.

Polystyrene disposable ware is made from styrene, a petroleum product shown to have adverse health effects on occupationally-exposed workers and on consumers who utilize it.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that health hazards for workers can be acute.

Chronic effects for both workers and consumers can be in the form of headaches, fatigue, weakness, depression and central nervous system dysfunction (e.g. reaction time, memory speed, intellectual function).  There are also reproductive and developmental health effects such as spontaneous abortion.  Lung tumours have been observed in the offspring of orally exposed mice.  Styrene also shows possible carcinogenicity to humans.

 The leaching of styrene into the body through a cup of coffee, for example, can be 0.025%.  If you drink 2 cups of coffee per day for three years, you have consumed as much as a cup of styrene.  Hot, fatty, acidic or alcoholic beverages increase the rate of leaching.

In addition to the unfavourable health effects to humans, polystyrene is non-biodegradable.  Because it is so difficult to recycle, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states:  "Each year Americans throw away 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam cups.  Even 500 years from now, the foam coffee cup you used this morning will be sitting in a landfill".

SUGGESTED ACTION PLAN

1.  Post this notice in every parish & Catholic school kitchen:

"We are called to be stewards of God's creation.  Please use cardboard when using disposable ware (i.e. plates & cups).  Please do NOT use Styrofoam, as it is a health hazard and is non-biodegradable.  By request of your CWL.  Thank you".

2.  All members should discontinue use of Styrofoam disposable ware and educate others concerning this matter.

Thank you to B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council for providing this information.

St. John's C.W.L. requests that you consider this matter and follow the action plan suggested by National Council.