A is for Arsenic

A is for Arsenic Ingredients A is for Arsenic

Arsenic is a known carcinogen.

Carcinogens are bad. Period.

Agreed? We don't want them at all, do we? Not even the slightest hint of carcinogenic exposure!

Let's remove them from every product we may use, consume, or otherwise come into contact with. Let's obliterate them from the planet!


There, that's done.

Here are a few of the carcinogens that we've just destroyed and removed from our daily existence.

Let's start with the letter A Since arsenic no longer with us, the all-time symbol of health and wholesome goodness – the apple – is also now gone.

Oops.

Who would have thought that apples have a naturally occurring content of arsenic?

There are a few other things missing now as well:

Black pepper – a staple on every dinner table and in every kitchen – contains safrole. Safrole is a known carcinogen.

Coffee, tea, and cocoa all contain tannins. Tannins are known carcinogens.

Cinnamon, nutmeg and many other spices that many of us will be enjoying in baked goods in the coming Christmas season all contain safrole.


While We're at It On the American Cancer Society's website is a very long list of known carcinogens. Here are just a few of them:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Diesel engine exhaust
• Coke production
• Leather dust
• Mineral oils, untreated or mildly treated
• Outdoor air pollution
• Salted fish – Chinese style
• Wood dust

And there are a few probable carcinogens from the same page

• Frying: emissions from high temperature
• Hairdresser or barber (workplace exposure)
• Petroleum refining (workplace exposure)
• Shiftwork that involves circadian disruption (see more here)

Find the complete list here

My Carcinogenic Point I'm not dismissing the need to address our exposure to carcinogens. I am merely calling for a bit of perspective.

In recent years there have been countless accusations directed at the cosmetics industry for 'putting toxins and carcinogens' in personal care products such as deodorant, creams and hair products.

Really?

The cosmetics industry is trying to kill off its customers while charging them for it?

Hmm.

I'm having a hard time seeing the sense in that.

In his comments on this blog post, cosmetic scientist Perry Romanowski recently wrote: "I agree we should limit carcinogen exposure – however the levels you get from cosmetic compounds are not significant enough to worry about."

Allow me to extract a few words from this comment: "Not significant enough to worry about."

Mr Romanowski isn't the only scientist saying this. Not by a long shot.

Now excuse me while I take a break and have a bite.



Find more about Apples and ArsenicWikipedia about arsenic
Food Safety Q & A about arsenic and apples
FDA on the safety of apple juice

Posted by Hodie J