But styrene, the chemical building block of polystyrene foam, is linked to an array of health problems. A lot of that is just littered around the landscape, and a lot of that ends up in water. Recycling operations can’t handle the contaminated waste. It will have the triangular recyclable logo on it and the number 6, meaning polystyrene. Polystyrene is made out of the monomer styrene. Potential releases of styrene and its precursors during manufacture could also present problems. How many cups of coffee or microwaved noodles in polystyrene cups have you consumed? Worse yet, it disassembles into its component little cells, which float away and can be consumed by aquatic and marine creatures. This is what makes it useful for commercial products. Climate for Action: Choosing an Alternative to Polystyrene. Plastic drink containers, such as soda bottles, are commonly made of Polyethylene Terephthalate Polyester (PET). She is currently spending a year of service at EPA’s Region 3 Office in Philadelphia, PA as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Drop in your Styrofoam cup or packing peanuts. Polystyrene foam, better known under the trademarked name Styrofoam, is the material of choice for many coffee cups and takeout containers used in restaurants. More recently, their effects on the ozone layer or global warming have prompted a shift to substitutes. Technical and legal sticklers may prefer the term expanded polystyrene, or EPS. Styrofoam does not degrade or break down over time. Styrene toxicity may be much greater for people exposed occupationally or via air pollution. This is where you have to distinguish styrofoam (EPS) from polystyrene. Clean these and recycle them. Polystyrene is a petroleum-based plastic made from styrene monomers. I remember all throughout school, all the plates and cups in the cafeteria were polystyrene. What Are the Dangers of Plastic Crock Pot Liners? Properties of Glass, Foam and Plastic. : Andrew Moreton, Flickr Creative Commons. A consumer can test out the superior insulating properties of Styrofoam when getting hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup. It is common wisdom that styrofoam can not be recycled, which is not true in a very technical sense. If the calorimeter allows a significant amount of heat loss to the atmosphere due to its construction, then it will result in a cooler reaction mixture and a lower calculated enthalpy for the reaction. The term polystyrene refers to a polymer (long chain molecule) of the monomer (smaller molecule) styrene. Sounds are simply vibrations, and polystyrene absorbs these vibrations, or sound waves. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. At home or in the office, swap out polystyrene cups, plates and bowls with ceramic alternatives. This ubiquitous waste material has great insulating properties. But the word styrofoam is widely used in conversation and media when referring to expanded polystyrene foam — which you may use in that disposable cup or as “peanuts” to pack fragile things for shipping. Some estimates put the lifespan of styrofoam in a landfill around 500 years, and some put it way beyond that. One issue is volume. Once in the landfill, it does not decompose quickly. Its long hydrocarbon chain has phenyl groups attached to every other carbon atom in polystyrene. Some scientists have linked styrene to cancers of the breast and prostate. Polystyrene was discovered way back in 1839, was manufactured starting in the 1930s, then was first foamed in the 1940s, and first sold as coffee cups in the 1960s. But the styrene monomer from which it is made is suspected of causing cancer and other health problems, and miniscule amounts of styrene could leach into your hot coffee. But certain conditions cause polystyrene to break down chemically and possibly leach styrene. Studies indicate that styrene mimics estrogen and can interfere with hormone balances, potentially causing thyroid trouble and menstrual irregularities. Some municipalities, including Portland, Oregon and Orange County, California, have banned polystyrene foam to curb the material’s environmental effects. Polystyrene (PS) is a clear, amorphous, nonpolar commodity thermoplastic that is easy to process and that can be easily converted into a large number of semi-finished products like foams, films, and sheets. And see past issues of the SEJournal archived here. All Rights Reserved. The polystyrene foam Styrofoam is made of trapped air bubbles that prevent heat energy from flowing through it. Ordinary hard, unexpanded, polystyrene is common in commercial use — an example may be that yogurt or sour cream container in your refrigerator. SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment, SEJ Regional Conferences, Meet-Ups and Webinars, SEJ Bylaws, Policies, Agreements and Guidelines, Sign Up for SEJ Discussion Listservs (members only), consumed by fish and other marine and aquatic animals, Styrofoam Facts — Why You May Want To Bring Your Own Cup. One reason is that most styrofoam waste (think carryout food containers) is not clean and cannot be easily cleaned. The term polystyrene refers to a polymer (long chain molecule) of the monomer (smaller molecule) styrene. Consumers who drink beverages from polystyrene cups four times a day for three years will have ingested about one foam cup's worth of styrene along with those beverages. Cells from broken-down styrofoam find their way into streams, lakes and oceans. Polystyrene in Medical It is not dissolved by common liquids like water, serving as a barrier. This prevents heat loss, making Styrofoam an excellent insulator. Polystyrene Cups We offer a range of polystyrene cups which are ideal for hot or cold drinks as the insulating properties of the polystyrene help the drink to remain at the serving temperature whilst staying rigid and comfortable to hold. A lot of landfills are running out of room. The resulting polymer could be formed into sheets and rods, or drawn into fibers and films. ASTM C578 Standard Specification for Rigid Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation addresses the physical properties and performance characteristics of EPS foam as it relates to thermal insulation in construction applications. The AP Stylebook settles for “plastic foam.”. Polystyrene foams such as Styrofoam can help muffle and reduce the presence of any noises from outside the immediate room or environment. Learn more about SEJournal Online, including submission, subscription and advertising information. In the past, some fluorinated hydrocarbon gases were used because of their stability. Lightweight polystyrene foam provides excellent thermal insulation in numerous applications, such as building walls and roofing, refrigerators and freezers, and industrial cold storage facilities. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Plastics-Fabrics, Film, Sheets, Rods, Etc-Producers in Tampa, FL. 15. He writes SEJournal Online's Issue Backgrounders and TipSheet columns, directs SEJ's WatchDog Project and writes WatchDog Tipsheet and also compiles SEJ's daily news headlines, EJToday. Researchers have linked chronic exposure to even small amounts of the styrene in polystyrene foam to depression and hormonal dysfunction. While it's not the styrofoam cup many loyal customers have become accustomed to over the years, the new paper version offers the same heat retention properties, according to … That’s the question. Depending on the application it is used for, Polystyrene's properties will change. And microwaving your styrofoam may be iffy. Knowing the characteristics of the material is helpful in deciding whether styrofoam is the most suitable insulation material for your project. The Canadian study said, ‘ The paper cup consumes 12 times as much steam, 36 times as much electricity, and twice as much cooling water as the plastic cup.’ And then when cooled again to room temperature, it becomes solid. It is one of the largest volume commodity plastic, comprising approximately seven percent of the total thermoplastic market1. Polystyrene is the name for a whole family of plastics, and in various forms they are used for many other things than foam. In the morning, you should find a glassy, relatively dense (compared to Styrofoam), polystyrene sculpture. This versatility was one of the defining traits of polyethylene. Why, then, is styrofoam of environmental concern? Polystyrene foam production generates mountains of liquid and solid waste. The material can also be put into a foamed state. Polystyrene_Cup -1 points 0 points 1 point 11 months ago I was in a town recently where 3 teens robbed a camper of his rifles on horseback, The kids got caught and got a bashing from the people in town and that was the end of it. It is chemically stable, and bacteria and microorganisms do not feed on it. Foam drinking containers are made of expanded polystyrene (EPS), a form of polystyrene plastic filled with tiny air bubbles. It absorbs shock. City council members unanimously passed a resolution Thursday supporting the restriction. Leak resistant lids securely hold side dishes and condiments during transport, reducing the risk of spills. When ordering takeout or bringing home leftovers from a restaurant, immediately transfer beverages and foods from polystyrene containers into glass or ceramic cups and dishes. Disposable, translucent polystyrene, resistant to diluted or weak acids, alcohols and bases Usable to 200°F, with four-way pour spouts Smaller sizes suitable for use as sampling cup for atomic absorption units, flame photometers and blood cell counters. About the Author: Michelle Gugger graduated from Rutgers University in 2008. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – PET is known for its ability to be easily ther… The raw materials from which it is made are hydrocarbons (ethylene and benzene) that come from petroleum and natural gas. These dense, hard beads are softened by heat and expanded using things like steam and blowing agents, becoming much larger and less dense beads. PS is made of foam material and is termed as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) or Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) which is known for its insulating and cushioning properties. Consumer can test out the superior insulating properties of styrofoam when getting hot coffee in a landfill 500! 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