Scientists admit to ‘insanely embarrassing’ mistake in ‘toxic’ kitchen utensils study
People were warned to ditch their black utensils a𝕴fter a study found the common kitchen item contained “toxic addictives” — but it may have been too hasty a declaration.
The authors of the research, at Vrije Universiteit in October, have since issued a correction after admitting they made a mathematic🐻al error in the calculations that led to warnings over the plastic cookwear.
The peer-reviewed study tested 203 household products made of༒ black plastic and fไound that 85 per cent of them had high levels of cancer-causing, hormone-disrupting flame retardants – with the highest levels found in black spatulas and sushi trays.
Mostꦉ of these retardants were made by a chemical called Decabromꦅodiphenyl ether (referred to as BDE-209).
Importa♎tion of the chemical🐼 into Australia is strictly regulated.
Megan Lieu, who co-au𒈔thored the study, explained the retardants are the same ones found in electronics, such as TVs, mobile phones and computers.
“These cancer-causing chemicals shoul🌺dn’t be used to begin with, but with recycling, they are entering our environment and our homes in more ways than one,” she said at the time.
“The high levels we found are concerning.”
The study quickly went viral as social media users expressed shock and weighed-in on whether or💦 not to ditch the household item.
However the people 𒉰 after making an error when calculatiꦗng the dose of BDE-209, for a 60kg adult.
It compared the daily intake of BDE-209 of 34700 n🐻anograms a day from the use of contaminated utensils.
The reference dose is 7000 nanograms 💧a d♎ay per kilogram you weigh.
“However, we miscalculated the💖 reference dose for a 60kg adult, initially estimating it at 42,000 ng/day instead of the correct value of 420,000 ng/day,” the amendment eꦚxplained.
“As a result, we revised our statement from ‘the calculated daily intake would approach the U.S. BDE-209 reference dose’ t♍o ‘the calcul🔯ated daily intake remains an order of magnitude lower than the U.S. BDE-209 reference dose.’
“We regret this error and have updated it in our manuscript. This calculation error does not affect the overall conclusion of the paper. The authors woul🌊d like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
The mistake has been described as “insanely embarrassing” by Dr Ian Mu𒁏sgrave, a molecular pharmacologist with expertise in toxicology at the University of Adelaide.
“It also shows the peer reviewers were not paying enough attention,” he told .
Many social media users had be🔴🐷en divided over the initial findings.
“Only poisonous if it’s scratched. Guess what it’s black and you can’t see the scratches. Hi🔜ghly toxic,” one social media user said.
Another addeꦺd: “Stopped using this years ago when everyo𝓀ne thought I was crazy.”
“Been using black plastic utensils for years with no 💖ಞissues,” someone else mused.
“Well we are all going to die eventually anyway. ️ Everything gives you cancer these days,” onꦐe said.
Another social media user cꩲommented: “Let’s just not eat or d🃏rink anything ever.”
“Oh don’t forget the pesticides, chemicals and hormones they put in our food, plastic used to heat up food in the microwa🔯ve. And the list goes on,” another chipped in.
