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Disadvantages of Styrofoam Cups

Foamed polystyrene is a light-weight, petroleum-based plastic manufactured from styrene. Most people know it as Styrofoam, the brand name trademarked by the Dow Chemical Company. Styrofoam has become an integral part of everyday life since its invention in the early 1940s. Styrofoam cups are extremely popular because they are cheap, sanitary for one-time use and keep beverages hot or cold with little effect on sensitive fingers. However, for all the advantages associated with Styrofoam, there are serious health and environmental disadvantages for consumers to consider.

  1. Manufacturing Process

    • The Environmental Protection Agency listed the polystyrene manufacturing process as the fifth largest creator of hazardous material in a 1986 report on solid waste. The manufacturing process releases hydrocarbons into the air at ground level. These hydrocarbons combine with nitrogen oxide in the air; in sunlight, this combination forms ozone. The process also creates large amounts of liquid and solid waste.

      Styrene, benzene and ethylene, the main chemicals used in manufacturing Styrofoam, cause eye irritation, gastrointestinal problems, depression, headaches, fatigue and nervous system damage. Styrene is listed as a possible carcinogen by the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Studies suggest styrene mimics estrogen, possibly interfering with hormone function resulting in a variety of hormone-related problems.

    Styrene Migration

    • Serious health concerns arise from the migration of styrene from a Styrofoam cup into the beverage it contains. Although additional study is needed, leaching has been observed as high as 0.025 percent per use. This may seem low until you consider how often you use a Styrofoam cup. Styrene migration increases with the temperature of the beverage, so hot or microwaved beverages are riskier than cold. Certain beverage ingredients, such as alcohol or acids, seem to raise the styrene migration rate. Fat content also increases migration. The higher the content, the higher the migration, which is important to consider if you're eating soup or ice cream from your Styrofoam cup.

    Biodegradation

    • Styrofoam cups do not biodegrade significantly and today's discarded cup will remain in the landfill indefinitely. According to the EPA, Americans discard 25 billion cups each year. By volume, discarded plastics occupy 25 to 30 percent of the space used for landfills. Many cups end up as litter. Exposed to the environment, Styrofoam breaks down into smaller pieces that choke animals or cause other digestive issues.

    Recycling

    • The Styrofoam recycling market is small and shrinking, even though the technology is available. Many curbside recycling companies no longer accept Styrofoam because it is bulky to store and the recycling process is expensive. Considering Styrofoam is made from petroleum, a nonsustainable resource, the inability to recycle the majority of the billions of cups used each year is significant.

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