COMMONLY used cooking utensils may contain potentially cancerous chemicals due to mistakes in recycling practices, a new study has warned.

As part of a study published in the journal Chemosphere, 203 consumer products were screened for bromine – commonly used to make flame retardants – and toxic levels of “cancer-causing chemicals” were discovered.

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According to the findings, black-coloured plastic, used in kitchen utensils, takeaway containers and children’s toys contain toxic levels of brominated flame retardants (BFRs).

BFRs were found in 85 per cent of products, with total concentrations ranging up to 22,800 parts per million (ppm) of chemicals.

Banned substance deca-BDE, which is considered to have carcinogenic potential, was also discovered.

While exposure to bromine has not been linked to the development of cancer, some scientists have suggested toxic levels of BFRs can present a risk of carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity.

BFRs are commonly found in plastics, TVs, and electronics, and “are currently the largest marketed flame retardant group due to their high-performance efficiency and low cost,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Alongside kitchen utensils, the study found BFRs were present in beaded, pirate-coin necklaces worn by kids, sushi trays, grocery meat trays, hair accessories, Tupperware containers and office supplies.

The researchers estimated those using contaminated black plastic kitchen utensils would be exposed to an average of 34,700 ppm of decaBDE each day.

Study co-author Megan Liu, who’s also science and policy manager at Toxic-Free Future, said: “Companies continue to use toxic flame retardants in plastic electronics, and that’s resulting in unexpected and unnecessary toxic exposures.

“These cancer-causing chemicals shouldn’t be used to begin with, but with recycling, they are entering our environment and our homes in more ways than one. The high levels we found are concerning.”

The popularity of BFRs increased after restrictions on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were put in place.

PBDEs are a type of BFR that were previously used as flame retardants in a variety of products, including furniture, textiles, and electrical equipment.

PBDEs were banned due to concerns about their potential health risks and environmental impact.

The study researchers noted only black plastics were studied so they were unable to determine if other colours of plastics could also be exposed.

The brand of products analysed were also left unnamed.

It was also suggested consumers should avoid buying toys with black plastics and refrain from using black plastic for food contact materials.

Potential dangers of plastic and non-stick cookware

A study published earlier this year warned that plastic and non-stick cookware can release microplastics into food during food preparation.

The study published by scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, SALT Lofoten and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research investigated the extent to which non-plastic, new plastic and old plastic cookware can contaminate food.

Microplastics can stem from the degradation of larger plastic items or the direct release of tiny plastic particles.

Consumption of microplastics by humans can occur via inhalation of airborne fibres or ingestion of microplastic-contaminated foods and beverages.

As part of the study, the researchers prepared jelly using either non-plastic, new plastic or old plastic cookware.

Reacting to the study’s findings, Co-author Dr Amy Lusher of NIVA Norway, said “Much of the concern of microplastics in food products has grown from the presence of microplastics in seafood. We set out to look at alternative sources of microplastics to the human diet. Since much of our food preparation happens at home, the kitchen was a logical, yet overlooked, place to investigate.

“Our results were concerning – showing that plastic cookware is likely adding thousands of microplastics into the human diet each year. Furthermore, it found that new and old plastic cookware significantly increased microplastic load in prepared food.

“Assuming a meal was prepared daily per the prescribed methodology, new and old plastic cookware may be contributing 2409-4964 microplastics per annum into homecooked food. Non-plastic cookware did not introduce microplastics into prepared food.”

Dr Lusher added the health implications of ingesting microplastics remains unclear.

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FUNERAL directors must be regulated to stop rogue operators, warn experts investigating the NHS morgue monster David Fuller.

Fuller was sentenced to life in prison for murdering two women and sexually abusing the bodies of more than 100 at hospitals in Kent.

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Sir Jonathan Michael, chair of the inquiry into his crimes, said the funeral industry needs urgent reform.

He said he has sped up his work due to “recent distressing reports”.

Three people were arrested in the summer in connection with a funeral home in Hull, East Yorks, after families found loved ones’ remains had been mixed up or lost.

Past incidents have seen bodies treated inappropriately or left to rot in funeral parlours.

NHS hospital mortuaries have also been found to be too small, too warm or not properly secured.

Anyone can set themselves up as a funeral director and keep the bodies in their garage without anybody being able to stop them. That cannot be right

Sir Jonathan Michael Chair of the Fuller Inquiry

The Fuller inquiry found funeral directors do not need a licence, qualifications or training, and described the sector as an “unregulated free-for-all”.

Sir Jonathan said: “It is clear to me that many people believe or assume that the sector is already regulated, and they are shocked to find this is not the case. 

“The fact is that anyone can set themselves up as a funeral director. 

“They could do it from their home and keep the bodies of the deceased in their garage without anybody being able to stop them. 

“That cannot be right.

“My hope is that publishing this interim report now will assist both the Government and the funeral sector itself to take steps that assure the public that care in the funeral sector is fit for purpose. 

“We need a regulatory regime that will not tolerate any form of abuse or any practices that compromise the security and dignity of the deceased.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “The Government is committed to preventing any similar atrocities happening again and ensuring
that the deceased are safeguarded and treated with dignity.”

WOMEN are having their pain dismissed more than men at almost every stage of their lives, according to research.

A study of 5,000 adults examined how everyday pain is poorly understood and mistreated, with 81 per cent of 18-24-year-old women feeling their pain is ignored or dismissed.

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This compares to just 73 per cent of men of the same age.

While more than half of women aged 45 and over feel they have been ignored or dismissed, this drops to 49 per cent of men.

In addition, four in 10 women with menopause-related pain had it dismissed or ignored, and one in six women over 45 claimed it took longer than a year for the cause of their suffering to be diagnosed.

Overall, 19 per cent of all women felt their pain was dismissed by healthcare professionals for more than five years compared to 16 per cent of men.

As a result, one in five said their career has been impacted because of their pain.

The research was commissioned by Nurofen and its parent company Reckitt, as part of its latest Gender Pain Gap Index Report, which has been tracked annually since 2022.

Gabby Menezes-Forsyth, 25, suffered extreme period pain as a teenager before an endometriosis diagnosis.

She said: “I felt from an early age that the extreme period pain I was experiencing seemed to be worse than others, but I didn’t have a frame of reference for what was normal.

“I felt dismissed as ‘dramatic’ by everyone – from loved ones to teachers. In frequent trips to the GP, their dismissal never appeared cruel or to suggest that I wasn’t in pain, but rather that there was nothing they could do.

“Ultimately, it was only after suffering a miscarriage at age 22 that I was diagnosed with a biconcave uterus and endometriosis.

“Even with the clarity that the diagnosis offered, it was a difficult realisation to come to, understanding that this would always be something that would impact my life.”

The research shows that the average Gap stands at seven per cent, indicating that more women than men have had their pain ignored or dismissed.

While this year’s Gap has narrowed (two per cent in 2024 vs 11 per cent in 2023), a higher number of women felt their pain was ignored or dismissed (62 per cent in 2024, 49 per cent in 2023 and 56 per cent in 2022.

A third of women felt it has impacted their mental health – up from a quarter in the 2023 report.

And one in four even started to question their own sanity, believing their pain wasn’t real after having it dismissed.

Clare Knox, founder and CEO of See Her Thrive, said: “So much is talked about the Gender Pay Gap – a similar issue, which needs fixing.

“But this report shows the Gender Pain Gap is also holding so many women back from reaching their true potential and climbing the career ladder.

“We need to start supporting women to thrive in every aspect of their lives, whether that’s helping them manage pain so they can carve out the career they want, or working with organisations to create environments which empower women’s health in the workplace.”

It also emerged the workplace was found to be one of the most common places for pain to have been overlooked for 40 per cent of women.

And only a fifth are comfortable talking about their pain to HR or their manager in the workplace.

But the dismissal by a health care professional is happening as young as between 10 and 15 for one in 10 girls.

Dr Bill Laughey, senior medical scientist at Reckitt, which has also announced a partnership with Plan International UK to support girls’ health literacy, said: “With three years of data, we can now start to see the nuances of how women’s pain is dismissed and, crucially, use this insight to help address gender biases for those who experience it the most. 

“This complements our wider commitments to our research programmes, working with Imperial Consultants, London to identify what education the next generation of HCPs want to see while supporting the Royal College of GPs in providing training around gender bias in primary care settings.”

In March 2023, the NHS announced it would make Wegovy, a drug made by Danish firm Novo Nordisk, available on prescription to thousands of obese Brits.

It contains the drug semaglutide, which is said to have helped reality star Kim Kardashian and Twitter boss Elon Musk lose weight.

Wegovy, which helped a third of people reduce their weight by 20 per cent in trials, is now available from pharmacies like Boots.

How do they work?

The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less and therefore lose weight.

To do this, semaglutide mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1.

GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepares it to use the energy that comes from your food.

London GP and founder of wellgoodwellbeing.com, Dr Zoe Watson, said: “Your body naturally produces an appetite regulating hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1.

“These jabs work by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.”

Aren’t they diabetes drugs?

Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, was originally sold under the name Ozempic specifically for diabetes patients.

But people started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them eating as much and helping them shed the pounds.

Novo Nordisk then developed Wegovy, which contains the same chemical but at higher doses specifically to aid weight loss.

Wegovy is not prescribed for diabetes patients.

Can I get them?

Wegovy is offered on prescription to obese adults given specialist weight loss treatment.

The NHS currently also offers a similar drug called Saxenda, or liraglutide.

Both are only available throught specialist weight management services, which means you have to be referred to clinics led by experts.

GPs can’t prescribe them on their own, Dr Watson said. 

The jabs have to be taken as part of an overall programme to help with lifestyle changes and psychological support to get the best effect from the medication prescribed. 

Are there any risks?

Like all medicines, the jabs do not come without side effects.

Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.

Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”

Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.

What other options are there?

Mounjaro (brand name for tirzepatide) also came onto the market in early 2024.

Like Wegovy, tirzepatide stems from a drug originally designed to treat diabetes.

The weekly injection helped overweight people drop more than two stone in 18 months.

It is available with to order with a prescription online from pharmacies including Superdrug and LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor.

It works in a similar way to Wegovy and Saxenda, but is more effective.

Dr Mitra Dutt from LloydsPharmacy says: “Based on clinical trials, 96 per cent of people were able to lose more than five per cent of their body fat using Mounjaro. In similar trials, 84 per cent of people lost more than five per cent of their body weight on Wegovy, and 60 per cent on Saxenda.

“Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity, and work to decrease food intake.”