Is Styrofoam bad for the environment?

Is Styrofoam bad for the environment?

Styrofoam is not only a dangerous air pollutant but also poses a great threat to humans, the environment, and animals. The worst part is that Styrofoam takes over 500 years to decompose and in the process, it leaches harmful chemicals into the environment.

Is Styrofoam bad for humans?

Styrene, the main ingredient in polystyrene foam, is a likely human carcinogen, according to both the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Toxicology Program. In mice, it causes lung tumors. In people, it increases the risk for leukemia and lymphoma.

Is Styrofoam a natural material?

Styrofoam (polystyrene) is a very popular material made from petroleum that is very bad for the environment and creates pollution in its production as well as in its destruction (when burned at a landfill).

Is Styrofoam the same as plastic?

Styrofoam is a plastic made from petroleum, and it is also called a styrene monomer. Styrofoam is the brand name for polystyrene foam. Because there is so much air locked inside of polystyrene material, Styrofoam is an excellent insulator.

What are the dangers of Styrofoam?

Styrene and Styrofoam 101. Like many chemicals, we know about their health effects from worker exposures. Prolonged effects of chronic styrene exposure that many manufacturing workers face include depression, chronic headaches, fatigue, and weakness, and minor effects on kidney function and blood.

What is used to make Styrofoam?

The Styrofoam brand polystyrene foam, which is used for craft applications, can be identified by its roughness and the “crunch” it makes when cut. Additionally, it is moderately soluble in many organic solvents, cyanoacrylate , and the propellants and solvents of spray paint.

What can we do with our used Styrofoam?

To make your own perlite from styrofoam, just follow the instructions below: Clean foam trays by washing them with soap and then drying them. Cut the tray into 1.25 cm (1/2 inch) strips. Then, cut the strips into half inch squares. Put the squares into a blender with enough water so that the squares float to the top. Blend for about 1 minute. Drain the blended mixture with a sieve and let the perlite substitute dry off.