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Benzene Beverage

Most people know that drinking too much soda isn’t good for them. What they probably don’t know, however, is that some sodas contain benzene – a known carcinogen – in levels the government finds unsafe.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first discovered benzene in soft drinks 16 years ago, but never told the public. Instead, it worked out an agreement with soft drink manufacturers and they agreed to take care of the problem. But recent testing shows that benzene is still present in some beverages at levels as much as four times as high as the government considers safe for drinking water.

The FDA has told consumers not to worry and that the problem is not widespread. But it won’t say which soft drinks contain unacceptable levels of benzene, which is formed through a chemical reaction between citric acid and sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate, used as preservatives in many sodas. Benzene is also found in vehicle exhaust fumes, tobacco smoke, detergents and vapors from paint and furniture wax. Long-term exposure is known to cause cancer, particularly leukemia.

The FDA is continuing to investigate.

Read more here.

For a copy of the FDA’s statement on benzene in soft drinks, click here.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org