Does green styrofoam contain lead or other hazardous chemicals?
I do a lot floral arranging, for which I use a lot of green styrofoam from Michael's. After all those lead warnings, I wonder if green styrofoam contains lead, or other hazardous chemicals. The green styrofoam I use tends to powder a lot. My hands always end up coating with those green powder rubbed off from the green styrofoam when I play with it. Do you know where I can get styrofoam of better quality? Many thanks.
The lead in the plastics which you have heard about so recently comes from lead salts which have been added to stabilize the plastic, so that it remains soft after being formed in a hot mold. Without the stabilizers, those soft vinyl lunch bags wouldn't be very soft. Vinyl is pretty much the only plastic to which lead is added.
Styrofoam is produced from pellets which are a combination of polystyrene and a blowing agent, probably pentane or CO2. There is no need to add a stabilizer to the mix, and the resulting Styrofoam product is inert, and any harmful gases have been left at the factory.
So don't worry and keep arranging your flowers. But be wary of those fake vinyl daffodils from China.
 |
 CI ANTIQUE BLOOMS SWATCHPACK Rub ons 4 sheets Floral Corners 45 28405 $3.95 Time Remaining: 5h 27m Buy It Now for only: $3.95 |
 E Z Vintage Rub Ons FLOWERS Floral BLOCKS 7 Varieties $1.61 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 4m Buy It Now for only: $1.61 |
 E Z Vintage Rub Ons FLOWER Floral BORDERS 7 Varieties $1.61 Time Remaining: 2d 7h 4m Buy It Now for only: $1.61 |
 Studio 112 Rub Ons Floral 1 sheet T28 K $2.99 Time Remaining: 6d 12h 23m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 Expressions Rub Ons Scrapbooking Stickers floral $6.00 Time Remaining: 10d 10h 29m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 BEAUTIFUL Flower Floral DAISY BUCKET Rub Ons RubOns $2.99 Time Remaining: 10d 17h 54m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 Fancy Pants RUB ONS GLITTER CUTS TITLE TAGS DIE CUTS $1.49 Time Remaining: 13d 9m Buy It Now for only: $1.49 |
 Tulip LOT of 3 Large Rub On Transfers FLORALFOOD NEW $5.95 Time Remaining: 13d 13h 2m Buy It Now for only: $5.95 |
 Basic Grey Division B2 Rub ons Floral Swirls Twigs T109 11 $2.99 Time Remaining: 19d 12h 57m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 K and Company Abrianna Collection Rub Ons Floral $1.99 Time Remaining: 19d 17h 8m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 Provo Craft Scrapbooking Rub Ons Floral Baskets $1.00 Time Remaining: 21d 4h 27m Buy It Now for only: $1.00 |
 Provo Craft Scrapbooking Rub Ons Floral Chains $1.00 Time Remaining: 21d 6h 11m Buy It Now for only: $1.00 |
 Rub On Transfers Stickers 2 Sheets FLORAL NAME TAG BANNERS $5.95 Time Remaining: 23d 25m Buy It Now for only: $5.95 |
 BASIC GREY BasicGrey CURIO Vintage Floral Rub Ons Book Olio 5 Sheets $4.54 Time Remaining: 23d 1h 58m Buy It Now for only: $4.54 |
 BASIC GREY BasicGrey HELLO LUSCIOUS Floral Rub Ons Book Olio 5 Sheets $4.54 Time Remaining: 23d 2h 2m Buy It Now for only: $4.54 |
 Lot of 4 Fancy Pants Rub Ons 24 Value Christmas Floral Whimsy $6.99 Time Remaining: 27d 51m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 Lot of 6 Fancy Pants Rub Ons 36 Value Floral Flourishes More $9.99 Time Remaining: 27d 51m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 PLAID FLORAL DESIGNS RUB ONS EMBELLISHMENTS $1.39 Time Remaining: 27d 7h 27m Buy It Now for only: $1.39 |
 KCompany Stamped Floral Flip Pack 140 pieces 3D Flowers Rub onsStickers T1D $3.99 Time Remaining: 28d 2h 57m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |