Of Plastics, Dioxin & Cancer

[Zilvy]

http://www.jhsph.edu/Press_Room/articles/Halden_dioxins.html

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/plastic-cancer-link-hoax.html

http://www.snopes.com/toxins/plastic.htm

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_frozen_plastic_dioxin.htm










This came to me in Email-I have read reports on this before in health magazines....It would seem to be a Current Event Topic...but in checking out that forum at TRS it seems all Political..so I'll start it here and it can be moved if necessary.

I use my microwave primarily for quick defrosting of fish, beef etc., & I cook my veggies all in (as it happens) Corning Ware. DH likes some quick frozen dinners when I am not around....haven't been able to convince him to take em out of the plastic.

CANCER NEWS FROM JOHN HOPKINS

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer. (didn't remember this warning, guess plastic ice cube trays are a no-no also)

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This
information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dioxin
chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your
plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle
Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked
about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be
heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This applies
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.

Instead, he recommends using glass, Corning Ware or ceramic containers for
heating food. You get the same results, only 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. It's just safer to use tempered
glass, Corning Ware, etc. (Is this a Corning Ware lobbyist point of view)?

He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved
away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the
reasons.

Also, he pointed out that Saran wrap is just as dangerous when placed over
foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat
causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip
into the food. (Can you taste the LOVE)?

Cover food with a paper towel instead. (I prefer waxed paper)

[newslady]

Uh, I found this info here:

http://www.snopes.com/toxins/plastic.htm

[newslady]

And here:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_frozen_plastic_dioxin.htm

[Zilvy]

I FULLY TRUST the FDA or any FEDERAL AGENCY! :1crazy: The same FEDERAL Government that claimed there was nothing behind the massive deaths of sheep when doing atomic bomb testing, the same FEDERAL GOVERNMENT that has used troops to do experimental drug testing during WWII, Nyanza and all the other contaminated areas that were NOT responsible for all the cluster cancers! The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT headed by GWBUSH...what's not to question, we are ALL being taken care of, right????

We can trust the plastic manufacturers, they wouldn't do anything to harm us...the consumer!

[kailin]

Because of personal health issues, I've been paying some attention to this factor. Had not heard of the term "xenoestrogens" before a few weeks ago. "Xeno" is the same component as in xenophobia -- it means "foreign" or "outside".

There are some ongoing studies on the effects of these chemicals, which mimic human estrogen, on the human immune system. For example:

http://www.epa.gov/endocrine/inventory/FDA-1.html

Don't have the other references handy, but at least one potential source of very high xenoestrogen which can get ingested is the combination of plastic and oils, such as the plastic used on microwave dinners. So now when I do up a dinner, I take off the plastic and replace it with a plate, or even another one of those black trays (also plastic but not as dangerous perhaps). There are also some atmospheric sources, if I remember correctly. You can be breathing in the chemicals. This can affect at least female reproductive system, including possible breast cysts.

In any case, maybe not the dioxin, but I'd be happy for anyone to help me out with more references about the impact of the xenoextrogens vs phytoestrogens on the human endocrine system.

[Toy Ranch]

I heard that if you stop putting plastic in microwaves, Bill Gates will send you a million dollars. It might not be true, but then again...

[rossshow]

It's a HOAX, Zilvy. Pure and simple, you were had.

[agentorange]

I'm safe either way, as I do not use a microwave.

[mrpotatoheadd]

I heard that if you stop putting plastic in microwaves, Bill Gates will send you a million dollars. It might not be true, but then again...I thought the email meant for you to send a microwave oven to the top 5 people on the list, and then add your name to the bottom.

In the next three weeks, you'll get 14,546,328 microwaves in the mail...

[sadie999]

I once put a cockroach in a microwave.

It walked out like nothing had happened. I don't much like microwaves because they make everything smell funny, but I really hate cockroaches. :1barf1:

[Heartland]

It walked out like nothing had happened. LOL Sadie, whatever possessed you?

A cockroach would be walking out of a nuclear blast like nothing happened.