i guess to make it easy for the readers, here's a site that kind of sums up
the toxicity and environmental problems due to styrofoam
http://www.ecocycle.org/TimesFall2000/askrosie.cfm

also, if i recall, dr. hulda clark (cancer expert) has negative things to
say about styrofoam as to its toxicity

in summary, in answer to the original post, i think styrofoam is a terrible
choice for any component piece or adjoining piece to a bird feeder, or on
any exposed or painted surface of styrofoam birds or humans may interact
with, for reasons mentioned throughout my posts



"effi" wrote in message
...
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
m...

"effi" wrote in message
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given the toxicity of styrofoam, why introduce toxic material into an
environment birds are feeding in?

Sorry effi, it is not toxic.

what is your source for your statement that styrofoam is not toxic?




If ingested by a bird it may block the digestive tract same as any other
inert material. There is a difference between blocking and being toxic.
You pointed to a list about toys for birds to play with.. That is
different than insulating a window for a feeder. While they should not eat
any plastics, they can sit on it, nest on it, sleep on it, and have no
adverse effects EPS foam is used for coffee cups, cooker, seafood shippers
etc. It is allowed because it is on the GRAS list and is NOT toxic.

It is recyclable, it saves energy, it is safely incinerated and gives off
18,000 Btu per pound when used to generate electricity in a trash to
energy plant. Oh, not all foam is Styrofoam. Only the product made by
Dow Chemical as that is their registered trademark for extruded
polystyrene foam.

Any other questions?