Some Soft Drinks May Damage Your DNA

Parallax Blue writes "The Independent is reporting new findings that indicate a common additive called sodium benzoate, found in soft drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max among others, has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA in a cell's mitochondria. From the article: 'The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it — as happens in a number of diseased states — then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA — Parkinson's and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases, but above all the whole process of aging.' European Union MPs are now calling for an urgent investigation in the wake of these alarming new findings."

Comments

Well

[Jayemji]

Just another potential reason for me to not drink pop. Not least of which is that I find the taste and carbonic acid unpalatable. From what I read, this isn't 100% sure though. But then, not much in this world is.

Re:swimming pools and bullshit

[Goaway]

why is it that when terrorists have some inifnitesimal amount of poison, it is enough to wipe out the entire planet,
but when big companies put the same infinitesimal amount in your body, its nothing to be worried about?

That's because wait no nobody ever said anything even remotely like that, what the hell are you talking about you goddamn moron?

Re:Details ?

[Mantis8]

From the article:

"Sodium benzoate has already been the subject of concern about cancer because when mixed with the additive vitamin C in soft drinks, it causes benzene, a carcinogenic substance. A Food Standards Agency survey of benzene in drinks last year found high levels in four brands which were removed from sale."

Benzene is listed as the sixth most toxic substance, according to:
The Department of Health and Human Services
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/cxcx3.html

Top 20 Hazardous Substances from the 2005 CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances
1 ARSENIC
2 LEAD
3 MERCURY
4 VINYL CHLORIDE
5 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
6 BENZENE

From: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts3.html

"What is benzene?
Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals which are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke."

This doesn't sound like something I would want to ingest.

"How can benzene affect my health?
Eating or drinking foods containing high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death. The major effect of benzene from long-term exposure is on the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection."

Re:Details ?

[Mantis8]

Benzene is still the 6th most toxic chemical known to man. Therefore, consuming any substance that contains it or causes it to occur in the human body is a bad idea. That is just common sense. So consume all you want my friend. While you're at it, why not spice it up a bit with a little mercury or DDT (also on the same list of 20 most toxic substances known to man)? Even water, if consumed in massive quantities, can be, (and has already been proven to be) lethal. Yet water is a necessary ingredient for all life on earth. Benzene is NOT, to say the least.

The soft drink companies are NOT interested in our health. If they were, they would be OUT OF BUSINESS! They are mega-businesses and are only concerned with making mega-profits. Whether or not it is at the expense of our health is irrelevant to them.