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Benzene
was first detected in some soft drinks in the early 1990's
when it was discovered that two soft drink ingredients —
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium benzoate (a preservative)
— could react at high temperatures to produce benzene. At the
time, the industry worked with the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to reformulate products.
According
to the Environmental Working Group, the FDA's own soda sample
tests from 1995 to 2001 found that 79 percent of diet sodas
were contaminated with benzene levels above federal safety
standards for benzene in tap water. In Nov 2005, in response
to a private test that found elevated benzene levels in soda,
the FDA began testing soft drinks. They have not released any
new results yet, but in late March 2006, the
FDA asserted that benzene levels in beverages were not a
safety concern. You can go to EWG's
website for a list of beverages that raised concerns.
Great
Britain, responding to similar concerns, recently recalled
four soft drink products from store shelves due to benzene
contamination. They also released their results from tests on
149 drinks and are investigating results from an additional 22
products.
To learn more about
results from the British tests
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Greetings!
Welcome
to Healthy Environment, Healthy Tomorrow, a service of the
Oregon Environmental Council (OEC). Here you will find timely
information on the latest science, news and resources on the
link between health and the environment.
In
this issue, we focus on the latest science exploring links
between exposure to benzene and health effects. Benzene is a
chemical that can form naturally and is found in forest fire
smoke, gasoline and cigarette smoke. It is also widely used in
industrial production to make plastics, rubber, detergents,
drugs and pesticides. Benzene can also form in certain soft
drinks made with Vitamin C and sodium or potassium benzoate.
Benzene
is a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia. It can cross
the placenta to the fetus at levels greater than or equal to
the amount in the mother's blood. In Oregon benzene is one of
the primary air pollutants contributing to added individual
cancer risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
"no safe level of exposure can be recommended."
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Low Levels of Benzene Can Reduce White Blood Cell
Count |
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 Most
evaluations of benzene health impacts exposure are based on
high level exposures. According to the Centers for Disease
Control, long-term and/or high level exposure to benzene may
interfere with normal blood cell production and can lead to
the development of cancer. There is also some evidence that
benzene may be harmful to reproductive organs.
New
research by the National Cancer Institute, University of
Berkeley and the Chinese CDC found that white blood cell
counts in shoe factory workers exposed to only 1 part per
million of benzene were 15% lower than unexposed workers. The
study, published in the journal Science raises new
questions about what levels are "safe" for worker and public
safety.
The
implications of decreased white blood cell counts are unclear
and more research is necessary. Additional research into other
impacts and long term health effects such as blood diseases
and leukemia was recommended.
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Click here for the
National Cancer Institutes summary of the
study |
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Reducing Benzene
Exposures |
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 Benzene
is all around us both indoors and outdoors. A major source of
benzene exposure is tobacco smoke. According to the CDC,
cigarette smoke accounts for about half of the US national
exposure to benzene and for about 89% of benzene exposure
among smokers. Secondhand smoke accounts for 10% of benzene
exposure among nonsmokers.
Other
key sources of exposure come from gas stations, motor vehicle
exhaust, and industrial emissions. Indoor air exposures
generally come from benzene-containing products such as glues,
paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
Benzene
can be measured in the blood or breath. A metabolite of
benzene, called phenol, can be measured in the urine and can
serve as an indicator of the presence of benzene. However,
these tests are only useful for determining recent exposures
to benzene and cannot predict health effects.
Fortunately,
there are simple ways to limit benzene exposure.
- Stop smoking
and limit second hand smoke exposures.
- Avoid gasoline
fumes (choose gas stations with vapor recovery
systems)
- Look at
product labels and avoid products containing
benzene
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Click here for more
more CDC information on
benzene |
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Support Funding for Environmental Public
Health |
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 The
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) needs to hear that
protecting public health from dangerous toxic chemicals,
protecting our drinking water and keeping our environmental
healthy are core Oregon values and should be funded. The ODHS
is hosting public meetings around the state to "hear public
opinion about the budget." The environmental public health
voice is often not heard in these meetings, and as a result,
state efforts to protect Oregonians are underfunded. Please
consider attending one of the meetings listed below and let
them know that these values are important to you and the
future of a safe and healthy Oregon.
- Eugene, May 22
from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Eugene Public Library, 100 W. 10th
Ave.
- Medford, May
23 from 9 a.m. to noon in the large community meeting room
at Jackson County Main Library, 205 S.
Central.
- Portland, May
25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Weyerhaeuser room of the
Memorial Coliseum, 300 Winning Way, in the Rose Quarter
district.
- Newport, June
1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Mariner room of the
Embarcadero, 1000 S.E. Bay Blvd.
If
you can't make it in person, you can submit a e- mail comment
to dhs.budget-input@state.or.us
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For more information
click
here |
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