After years of effort, I finally convinced the elders of the church I attend to stop using styrofoam products.
This wasn’t about “going green” or any social justice action, it was the expansion agent “pentane” that motivated me to act.
Styrofoam pellets about the size of the head of a pin are saturated with pentane, then shot into molds where heat is applied (usually steam) and the evaporation of the pentane forces the pellets to expand. It’s a fascinating process.
However, such a process obviously requires huge amounts of ventilation, as a single spark can set off an explosion of pentane in air in a closed building. But that’s not why I acted. It can also contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. But that’s also not why I acted.
It’s the fact that pentane is still entrapped within the styrofoam, and that heating the material enough to soften the plastic can cause the remaining pentane to be released into the food or drink in the container. The food or drink is consumed, and the person may possibly develop cancer (maybe not, of course).
Hot coffee, anyone?
Pentane is closely related to benzene, a known carcinogen. Now, while no scientific study has ever proven that drinking hot coffee from a styrofoam container will give you cancer, I thought, “Why take the chance?”
Also, when I worked for Dart Container Corp., I started asking questions about the potential toxicity. First they laughed at me, then they ridiculed me, then they threatened me, then they fired me -- for only asking questions.. Something was up, and I tried for years to find out what. Finally, San Francisco passed an anti-styrofoam bill back in 2016, and I have been using that as ‘evidence’ of my claims.
As of January 1, 2020, the church I attend has done away with styrofoam cups and plates, and will not purchase any more, forever. Further, we’ve started an informal “Coffee Club” of sorts, every member of which keeps a ceramic coffee mug on a rack in the kitchen and drops a few quarters into a can to help pay for the coffee. Several of us have also donated spare coffee mugs as ‘guest’ mugs. We wash our own mugs.
So, by reducing the possible carcinogenic effects of styrofoam from affecting people at church, I have started an open social group and possibly contributed to the ‘green’ movement as well.
Win-win!
What’s your good deed for 2020?
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The mere fact that science may not yet adequately explain an object, event, or experience does not mean the immediate explanation should automatically default to a conspiratorial, extraterrestrial, paranormal, or supernatural cause.
19 Jan 2020, 5:36 pm
