PLASTIC WRAP IN THE MICROWAVE
As a seventh grade student, Claire Nelson learned that
di(ethylhexyl) adepate (DEHA), considered a carcinogen, is found in plastic
wrap. She also learned that the FDA had never studied the effect of
microwave cooking on plastic-wrapped food. Claire began to wonder: "Can
cancer-causing particles seep into food covered with household plastic wrap
while being in the microwave?" Three years later, with encouragement from
her high school science teacher, Claire set out to test what the FDA had
not. Although she had an idea for studying the effect of microwave radiation
on plastic-wrapped food, she did not have the equipment. Eventually, Jon
Wilkes at the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson,
Arkansas agreed to help her. The research center, which is affiliated with
the FDA, let her use its facilities to perform her experiments that involves
plastic wrap in virgin olive oil heated in the microwave.
Claire tested four different plastic wraps and "found not just
the carcinogens but also xenoestrogen was migrating [into the oil]...."
Xenoestrogens are linked to low sperm counts in men and to breast cancer in
women. Throughout her junior and senior years, Claire made a couple of
trips each week to the research center, which was 25 miles from her home, to
work on her experiment.
An article in Options reported that "her analysis found that
DEHA was migrating into the oil at between 200 parts and 500 parts per
million. The FDA standard is 0.05 parts per billion." Her summarized results
have been published in science journals. Claire Nelson received the
American Chemical Society's top science prize for students during her junior
year and fourth place at the International Science and Engineering Fair
(Fort Worth, Texas) as a senior. "Carcinogens -- At 10,000,000 Times FDA
Limits"
On Channel 2 (Huntsville, AL) this morning they had a Dr.
Edward Fujimoto from Castle Hospital on the program. 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 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 dioxins
into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.
Dioxins 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 dioxins.
So such things as TV dinners, instant simian 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. He said we might 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
towel instead.
Pass this on to your friends
di(ethylhexyl) adepate (DEHA), considered a carcinogen, is found in plastic
wrap. She also learned that the FDA had never studied the effect of
microwave cooking on plastic-wrapped food. Claire began to wonder: "Can
cancer-causing particles seep into food covered with household plastic wrap
while being in the microwave?" Three years later, with encouragement from
her high school science teacher, Claire set out to test what the FDA had
not. Although she had an idea for studying the effect of microwave radiation
on plastic-wrapped food, she did not have the equipment. Eventually, Jon
Wilkes at the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson,
Arkansas agreed to help her. The research center, which is affiliated with
the FDA, let her use its facilities to perform her experiments that involves
plastic wrap in virgin olive oil heated in the microwave.
Claire tested four different plastic wraps and "found not just
the carcinogens but also xenoestrogen was migrating [into the oil]...."
Xenoestrogens are linked to low sperm counts in men and to breast cancer in
women. Throughout her junior and senior years, Claire made a couple of
trips each week to the research center, which was 25 miles from her home, to
work on her experiment.
An article in Options reported that "her analysis found that
DEHA was migrating into the oil at between 200 parts and 500 parts per
million. The FDA standard is 0.05 parts per billion." Her summarized results
have been published in science journals. Claire Nelson received the
American Chemical Society's top science prize for students during her junior
year and fourth place at the International Science and Engineering Fair
(Fort Worth, Texas) as a senior. "Carcinogens -- At 10,000,000 Times FDA
Limits"
On Channel 2 (Huntsville, AL) this morning they had a Dr.
Edward Fujimoto from Castle Hospital on the program. 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 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 dioxins
into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.
Dioxins 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 dioxins.
So such things as TV dinners, instant simian 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. He said we might 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
towel instead.
Pass this on to your friends