Will reusing 'Bera' spoons release environmental hormones and microplastics?

You don't need to worry. Professor Deokhwan Lee of the Department of Chemistry at Sogang University said, "If the item has gone through cleaning processes such as dishwashing at home, there is no big problem," and added, "Reuse is a matter of consumer choice."

There are two main reasons behind the claims made in SNS posts that argue against reusing plastic spoons.

They are 'environmental hormones' and 'microplastics'.

Let's start with environmental hormones.

If heat has not been applied, there is no possibility of leaching. Even if it has leached out, the impact on the human body is minimal. Professor Deokhwan Lee said, "Endocrine disruptors are extremely weak chronic toxic substances," and "the likelihood of them leaching out is low, but even if they do, the chance of causing problems in the human body from being exposed a few times a day is small."

Furthermore, plastic spoons are made from polystyrene (PS), a material commonly used in disposable containers, which by its nature does not contain bisphenol A or phthalates, known as harmful environmental hormones.

Environmental hormones and other harmful substances are unlikely to be detected. Concerns about the safety of PS material have been continuously raised, prompting the Korea Food & Drug Administration to conduct a direct safety investigation. They measured the leaching amounts of five volatile substances—styrene, toluene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, and n-propylbenzene—that could remain as residuals when PS is used as raw materials or solvents during manufacturing, and it was confirmed that the amounts were very low, indicating safety.

Microplastics are also not something to worry about.

Professor Lee said, "Microplastics are produced when plastic products break or are cut during decomposition," and added, "Spoons are already pre-treated with a smooth surface, so the likelihood of microplastics being released is low."

When reusing disposable plastic items, it is best not to apply heat. Doing so can deform the product, making it difficult to use, and depending on the material, harmful substances may be released. Additionally, to prevent bacterial growth, they should be thoroughly dried after washing, just like regular products.