Chloe Zhang
Polystyrene is a type of thermoplastic made from styrene, a carcinogen derived from the highly hazardous chemicals benzene and ethylbenzene. It is commonly used in food packaging, electronics, toys, and building materials. Polystyrene comes in two forms: rigid and foam, with the latter often referred to as Styrofoam. While polystyrene is versatile and widely used, it poses significant threats to human health and the environment due to the toxic chemicals used in its production. Its lightweight nature makes it difficult to recycle, and it often ends up in landfills or as litter, contributing to pollution and the exposure of communities to harmful substances. Despite these concerns, the market value of polystyrene is predicted to exceed USD 33 billion by the end of 2023, driven by its increasing demand in the packaging industry.
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What You'll Learn
- Polystyrene is a type of thermoplastic made from styrene
- It is used in food packaging, electronics, toys, and building materials
- It is difficult to recycle polystyrene
- Polystyrene is toxic and poses serious threats to human health and the environment
- Some US states and cities have banned or restricted polystyrene foam
Polystyrene is a type of thermoplastic made from styrene
Polystyrene (PS) is a synthetic polymer made from monomers of the aromatic hydrocarbon styrene. It is a type of thermoplastic polymer that is solid at room temperature but mouldable when heated above approximately 100°C. It is a long-chain hydrocarbon with carbon sites attached to phenyl groups.
The polymerization of styrene has been known since 1839, when German pharmacist Eduard Simon reported its conversion into a solid later named metastyrol. By 1937, American chemist Robert Dreisbach and others at the Dow Chemical Company had obtained purified styrene monomer through the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. Styrene is obtained by reacting ethylene with benzene in the presence of aluminium chloride to yield ethylbenzene. The benzene group in this compound is then dehydrogenated to yield phenylethylene, or styrene.
Polystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics, with several million tonnes produced annually. It is used in a wide range of applications, including food packaging, toys, electronics, building materials, laboratory equipment, and medical devices. It is also used in some polymer-bonded explosives (PBX). Polystyrene is often filled with chemical additives to provide plastic with physical properties, such as flame retardants. However, these additives can expose consumers to toxic chemicals.
Polystyrene is one of the major thermoplastics with a high global demand, ranking behind only polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. It is manufactured from styrene monomer, which was discovered about two hundred years ago as a component of several trees, including the Liquidambar orientalis. Today, styrene is manufactured by the adiabatic or isothermal dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, which is, in turn, produced from ethylene and benzene.
Polystyrene poses serious threats to human health and the environment, exposing low-income communities and communities of colour, workers, and consumers to dangerous chemicals. The production of polystyrene relies on dirty fossil fuels and massive energy consumption, contributing to climate change.
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It is used in food packaging, electronics, toys, and building materials
Polystyrene is a synthetic polymer made from styrene monomers. It is one of the most widely used plastics, with several million tonnes produced annually. It is naturally transparent, but can be coloured with colourants. It is also inexpensive, rigid, brittle, and moderately strong.
Polystyrene is used in food packaging because it is food-safe, provides excellent insulation, and keeps food fresh for longer. It is also used in electronics because it is an excellent electrical insulator and is resistant to chemicals such as acids and bases. It is commonly used in the housing and other parts of televisions, computers, and IT equipment.
Polystyrene is used in toys and other products for children. It is often used in products that require clarity, such as laboratory equipment. It is also made into a foam material, called expanded polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene (XPS), which is valued for its insulating and cushioning properties.
Polystyrene is used in building materials because it is lightweight, durable, and provides excellent thermal insulation. It is used in building walls, roofing, and industrial cold storage facilities. It is also used in hot tub covers, floating docks, and boat seats. However, polystyrene is highly flammable, so its use in building construction is prohibited unless it is flame-retardant or concealed behind drywall, sheet metal, or concrete.
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It is difficult to recycle polystyrene
Polystyrene is a versatile plastic used in a wide range of applications, from food packaging to appliances and electronics. However, despite its recyclability, polystyrene recycling rates remain low due to various economic, logistical, and chemical challenges.
One of the primary obstacles to polystyrene recycling is its low density, which makes it challenging and costly to collect and transport. Its lightweight nature means that it is easily blown away, becoming litter. As a result, many municipal recycling programs do not accept polystyrene, and even when it is collected, the high recycling costs and limited profitability deter further processing.
The chemical composition of polystyrene also poses challenges for recycling. Polystyrene is derived from styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that, when heated, forms long polymer chains that solidify at room temperature. This process results in a plastic that is slow to biodegrade. Additionally, polystyrene often contains chemical additives, such as phthalates and flame retardants, which can leach out and expose consumers to toxic chemicals. These additives further complicate the recycling process and pose risks to human health.
Another issue with polystyrene recycling is the contamination that occurs during its use. Polystyrene is commonly used for food packaging and can be contaminated by food and drinks, making it unsuitable for recycling. This contamination also leads to the release of harmful chemicals into the environment when polystyrene ends up in landfills.
Furthermore, polystyrene production relies on dirty fossil fuels and energy-intensive processes, contributing to climate change. The extraction of fossil fuels and the use of energy contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and the production of polystyrene exposes nearby communities to air pollution and health risks.
While recycling polystyrene is challenging, it is not impossible. Innovations in economics, chemistry, logistics, and upcycling strategies are being explored to improve polystyrene recycling rates. For example, some manufacturers use expanded polystyrene scrap to create new products, such as EPS insulation sheets, toys, and picture frames. Additionally, the bacterium Pseudomonas putida has shown potential in converting styrene oil into biodegradable plastic, offering future possibilities for polystyrene disposal.
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Polystyrene is toxic and poses serious threats to human health and the environment
Polystyrene, commonly referred to as Styrofoam, is a type of plastic with a wide range of uses. It is used in food packaging, toys, electronics, building materials, laboratory equipment, and medical applications. It is valued for its insulating and cushioning properties, as well as its clarity and ease of sterilisation. However, polystyrene poses serious threats to human health and the environment throughout its lifecycle, from production to disposal.
Firstly, polystyrene is derived from natural gas and oil, and its production relies on dirty fossil fuels and massive energy consumption, contributing to climate change. The extraction of fossil fuels requires large amounts of energy and significantly increases greenhouse gas emissions. Polystyrene production facilities are often located within low-income communities and communities of colour, exposing residents to air pollution and increasing their risk of cancer and respiratory issues. For example, in "Cancer Alley" in Louisiana, where one of the largest polystyrene facilities in the world is located, poverty rates are higher than the national average, and there is a larger percentage of Black residents.
Secondly, polystyrene is extremely difficult to dispose of properly. It takes hundreds of years to decompose, if it decomposes at all, and is effectively non-biodegradable. As a result, it accumulates in landfills and the environment, becoming an abundant form of plastic pollution on land and in waterways. Polystyrene's lightweight and fragmented nature cause it to drift away on wind and water currents, allowing it to travel across the globe and harm wildlife and ecosystems worldwide. Animals often mistake polystyrene for food, leading to malnutrition and starvation.
Thirdly, polystyrene is not easily recycled due to its composition and tendency to be contaminated by food and drinks. Only a small percentage of polystyrene is recycled, and even when it is, the recycled material can only be used as filler in other plastics, making them difficult to recycle as well. Incinerating polystyrene for energy can release emissions containing more than 90 different compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and carcinogenic styrene monomers, which may cause birth defects.
Lastly, polystyrene poses health risks to humans due to the release of dangerous styrene and other toxic chemical additives. Styrene has been described as a likely human carcinogen by the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the American Cancer Society, and the World Health Organization. Studies have linked exposure to styrene to genetic damage to white blood cells and an increased risk of certain blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Chemical additives used in polystyrene, such as phthalates and flame retardants, can migrate or leach out, contaminating indoor air, dust, drinking water, and food. Therefore, reducing the use of polystyrene products is crucial to minimising the health and environmental risks associated with this toxic polymer.
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Some US states and cities have banned or restricted polystyrene foam
Polystyrene, often referred to by its trade name, Styrofoam, is a type of thermoplastic made from styrene, a carcinogen derived from other highly hazardous chemicals, benzene and ethylbenzene. It is commonly used in food packaging, toys, electronics, and building materials. Polystyrene comes in two forms: rigid and foam. The latter, expanded polystyrene (EPS), is valued for its insulating and cushioning properties.
The production and use of polystyrene pose serious threats to human health and the environment, exposing low-income communities, communities of color, workers, and consumers to dangerous chemicals. In addition, polystyrene is not easily recycled due to its composition and tendency to be contaminated by food and drinks. As a result, it ends up in landfills, polluting harmful chemicals into the environment.
Given the concerns surrounding polystyrene, some US states and cities have banned or restricted its use. Here are some examples:
California
Prior to statewide prohibitions, at least 128 cities in California had enacted polystyrene bans in some form, with 12 counties following suit: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma.
Hawaii
A de facto ban is in effect in Hawaii, with every county, except state-administered Kalawao County, enacting polystyrene bans. Maui County separately banned polystyrene foam coolers and the sale or rental of disposable bodyboards.
Massachusetts
At least 66 municipalities in Massachusetts have banned polystyrene, including major cities such as Cambridge, Newton, and Northampton.
Minnesota
Minneapolis enacted a ban in 1989, which was later amended in 2015. Other cities in Minnesota, such as Edina, Roseville, and Saint Paul, have followed suit with similar bans.
New Mexico
Santa Fe and Bernalillo Counties in New Mexico passed bans affecting unincorporated parts of their respective counties. The town of Taos also enacted a ban.
Pennsylvania
Several boroughs and townships in Pennsylvania, including Ambler, Narberth, Newtown, and Phoenixville, have banned polystyrene.
Delaware
Delaware became the 11th state to pass a law to reduce plastic foam, joining California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia.
Other Notable Cities
- Bethel, Cordova, and Seward in Alaska
- Hamden, Groton, Norwalk, Stamford, and Westport in Connecticut
- South Fulton in Georgia
- Charleston in South Carolina
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