Health News

Chemicals In Pizza Boxes Could Cause Health Problems And Cancer, Scientists Warn

Pizza boxes, carpet cleaners and other similar products contain a class of chemicals which could increase the risk of cancer and cause serious health problems, according to 10 year long study.

The chemicals in question are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a broad class of man-made substances that have been produced and used in both commercial products and industrial processes for over 60 years. Following the recent discovery that these chemicals pose danger to people and the environment, the chemical manufacturer DuPont banned the use of one type of PFAS in its popular Teflon products, and other companies followed suit, according to The New York Times.

Two hundred scientists from 38 countries have signed a statement published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, urging restrictions on the use of these chemicals.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Linda S. Birnbaum” author_title=”The head of the national toxicology program for the Department of Health and Human Services”]

Research is needed to find safe alternatives for all current uses of PFASs (…) The question is, should these chemicals continue to be used in consumer products in the meantime, given their persistence in the environment?

[/quote]

The PFAS family of chemicals represents an important part of DuPont’s $34.7 billion in sales last year. Even though the company has already banned one of these chemicals, Thomas H. Samples, the company’s head of risk management rejected the scientists’ concerns.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Thomas H. Samples”]

We don’t dismiss the right of folks to debate this, but we just believe based on the 10-year history of extensive studies done on the alternatives, that the regulatory agencies have done their job of determining that these things are safe for their intended uses.

[/quote]

“It’s likely that these chemicals will indeed have some effects on health, but it will take 5 or even 10 years to really do the research,” said Thomas F. Webster, a professor of environmental health at Boston University’s school of public health.

In unrelated story covered here on Immortal News, three baby boys have been saved with the use of 3D printed windpipe implants, that changes shape as they grow up.

Click to comment
To Top

Hi - Get Important Content Like This Delivered Directly To You

Get important content and more delivered to you once or twice a week.

We don't want an impostor using your email address so please look for an email from us and click the link to confirm your email address.