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Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 16:19:21 -0400
Reply-To: "Mary M. Cavanaugh" <cavanaughmm**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Mary M. Cavanaugh" <cavanaughmm**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
Organization: ASU Safety & WC Office
Subject: Re: Re-use mineral Water bottles
Comments: To: joseph.horvath**At_Symbol_Here**BMS.COM
In-Reply-To: <414B45A8.1070808**At_Symbol_Here**bms.com>
Joseph -- a concerned employee sent me the same email several months ago so
I researched it. There's some pure Urban Legend in this email, plus a bit
of truth.
The stuff about freezing plastic water bottles is pure urban legend.
Freezing bottles actually slows down the release of chemicals in plastic
bottles. And the hazardous chemical that does leach from plastic bottles
isn't dioxin, it's phthalate, and then only in discernible amounts when the
plastic is warmed (as in left sitting in a car in the sun, for example).
Consumer Reports did an eye-opening study about 4-5 years ago showing how
phthalates leach from clear hard plastic baby bottles into the milk when the
bottles are warmed.
On the other hand, the statements about there being a health hazard from
heating food in plastic are true. Microwaving food in or coverd by plastic
wrap also releases toxic chemicals into the food. This was the subject of
much publicity after a young girl demonstrated it for a science project.
I forget what the specific chemicals are that leach into the food, but they
aren't good for you. And definitely don't heat food in foam containers
either!
The email is correct that glass, corningware, stoneware (assuming it's rated
for food use -- ie is free of lead, cadmium, etc), stainless steel, and cast
iron are all much better choices.
You can check out the details at
http://www.jhsph.edu/Press_Room/articles/Halden_dioxins.html
Mary M. Cavanaugh, Industrial Hygiene Office
POB 32140
(For UPS/Fedex use: 525 Rivers St, CAP Bldg. Rm. 431)
Appalachian State University
Boone NC 28608-2140
phone 828.262.6838
fax 828.262.6558
email cavanaughmm**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu
website www.safety.appstate.edu
There is more to life than increasing its speed. - M.K. Gandhi
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Joseph J Horvath
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 4:15 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Re-use mineral Water bottles
All
Similar scenario making the rounds below - but apparently from a more
reliable source. I have not drilled down into this yet - but are there any
comments from the group??
joe
Franki 9/8/2004 9:54:20 AM >>>
>>> >Subject: John Hopkins Newsletter - Please read this.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >Yikes...this is scary.
>>> >Johns Hopkins Newsletter
>>
>>
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in their newsletters.
>>>
>>>
This
>>information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
>
>
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Dioxin carcinogens cause cancer. Especially breast cancer.
>>>> > > Don't
>>>
>>>
>>freeze plastic water bottles with water in them as this also releases
>>dioxin from the plastic. Dr. Edward Fujimoto from Castle hospital was
>
>
on a
>>TV program explaining this health hazard. (He is the manager of the
>>Wellness Program at the hospital.) He was talking about dioxins and
>
>
how
bad
>>they are for us. He said we should not heat our food in the microwave
>
>
using
>>plastic containers. This applies particularly to foods that contain
>
>
fat. He
>>said that the combination of fat, high heat and plastics releases
>
>
dioxin
>>into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Dioxin are
>>carcinogens and highly toxic to the cells of our bodies. Instead, he
>>recommends using glass, Corning Ware, or ceramic containers for
>
>
heating
>>food. You get the same results ... without the dioxin. So such things
>
>
as TV
>>dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the
>>container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't
>
>
know
>>what is in the paper. Just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware,
>
>
etc.
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Remember when some of the fast food restaurants moved away from
>>>
>>>
the
>>foam containers to paper? The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.
>
>
To
add
>>to this: Saran wrap placed over foods as they are nuked, with the
>
>
high
>>heat, actually drips poisonous toxins into the food, use paper towels
>>instead.
>
>
>>>> > >
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Please pass this on to your family & friends, & those who are
>>>
>>>
>>important in your life.
>
>
>>>> > >
>>>> > >!
>>>
>>>
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______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Sent via the ACN
WebMail system
Jay Young wrote:
>Ye gods, how silly can the internet get? There is absolutely no
>reliable scientific evidence that re-use of mineral water bottles by
>re-filling them with drinking water after washing and rinsing, or
>without washing or rinsing, can have fatal consequences.
>
>Jay Young
>
>
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