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Things You Can Do with BOUNCE

Microwave Popcorn - Is it Safe?

NRC Delivers Wake Up Call on Fluoride

Dangers in Carpeting

The Hazards of Candles

Odds & Ends

Microwave Popcorn - Is It Safe?

An Associated Press article dated September 5, 2007 reported that recent warnings to popcorn factory workers about the dangers of lung disease from Diacetyl exposure, have now been extended to consumers. Symptoms of bronchiolitis obliterans, often referred to as "popcorn lung" include:

Fixed airway obstruction

Scarring of the lung

Inflammation of the lung

Dry cough

Shortness of breath

Diminished lung capacity

Bronchiolitis obliterans is thought to be caused by exposure to Diacetyl, a chemical used to create the buttery flavoring of microwave popcorn. This potentially fatal obstructive lung disease causes victims to slowly suffocate within their own bodies. The Washington Post has previously reported the continually rising number of cases linked to Diacetyl and bronchiolitis obliterans in microwave popcorn factory workers. There has been at least one death associated with popcorn workers lung to date.

The only treatment available for bronchiolitis obliterans is a lung transplant.

In Nov 2005, 54 former workers from the popcorn plant settled lawsuits out of court, while a few others went to trial and the verdict total was over $50 million dollars in compensation for the workers.

Recent news reports suggest that the irresistible aroma that comes out of those popped bags may be damaging to your lungs. A substance called Diacetyl that's used to provide the illusion of buttery goodness has been linked to lung disease in popcorn-plant workers, and now at least one doctor is suggesting that those of us eating bagfuls at home may be affected as well.

According to a CTV report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been notified of one case of a consumer who ate "large quantities of the butter-flavored popcorn and developed a life-threatening lung disease sometimes called 'popcorn workers lung.'"

Dr. Cecile Rose, director of the occupational disease clinical programs at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, said that she first saw the Colorado man in February after another doctor could not figure out what was causing his distress. Dr. Rose described the case in a recent letter to government agencies.

A furniture salesman, the man was becoming increasingly short of breath. He had never smoked and was overweight. His illness had been diagnosed as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by chronic exposure to bacteria, mold or dust. Farmers and bird enthusiasts are frequent sufferers.

But nothing in the Colorado man's history suggested that he was breathing in excessive amounts of mold or bird droppings, Dr. Rose said. She has consulted to flavorings manufacturers for years about "popcorn workers' lung," and said that something about the man's tests appeared similar to those of the workers.

"I said to him, 'This is a very weird question, but bear with me. But are you around a lot of popcorn?' " Dr. Rose asked. "His jaw dropped and he said, 'How could you possibly know that about me? I am Mr. Popcorn. I love popcorn.' "

The man told Dr. Rose that he had eaten microwave popcorn at least twice a day for more than 10 years.

"When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much," Dr. Rose said. "That's heated diacetyl, which we know from the workers' studies is the highest risk."

Dr. Rose measured levels of diacetyl in the man's home after he made popcorn and found levels of the chemical were similar to those in microwave popcorn plants. She asked the man to stop eating microwave popcorn.

"He was really upset that he couldn't have it anymore," Dr. Rose said. "But he complied."

Six months later, the man has lost 50 pounds and his lung function has not only stopped deteriorating but has actually improved slightly, Dr. Rose said.

"This is not a definitive causal link, but it raises a lot of questions and supports the recommendation that more work needs to be done," Dr. Rose said.

Investigations are still being conducted to understand the potential harms of microwave popcorn consumption, research results have yet to be released...

Lung specialists and even a top industry official say the case, the first of its kind, raises serious concerns about the safety of microwave butter-flavored popcorn.

This doesn't necessarily mean you should strike all microwave popcorn from your shelves, or vow never to indulge again. But if you have children with lungs weakened by asthma or other conditions, it might want to consider what's coming out when you break open the bag.

In response to the letter written concerning the consumer who has developed lung disease is allegedly due to exposure to Diacetyl, the FDA indicated that it is "carefully considering the safety and regulatory issues it raises". The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently does not regulate the use of Diacetyl in the food industry, but it conducting its own investigations as more people continue to come forward with similar claims. Additionally, the EPA is doing research regarding the safety of Diacetyl fumes.

"We've all been working on the workplace safety side of this, but the potential for consumer exposure is very concerning," said John B. Hallagan, general counsel for the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States, a trade association of companies that make butter flavorings for popcorn producers. "Are there other cases out there? There could be."

A spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration said that the agency was considering the case as part of a review of the safety of diacetyl, which adds the buttery taste to many microwave popcorn.

Producers of microwave popcorn said their products were safe.

Meanwhile, four of the leading makers and sellers of microwave popcorn have acted. Con Agra, General Mills, American Pop Corn Company, and Pop Weaver have said they will stop using diacetyl in their products, according to news reports. Their brands include Orville Redenbacher, Act II, Pop Secret, Jolly Time and Pop Weaver.

Pop Weaver, has taken diacetyl out of its popcorn bags "because of consumer concerns" but not because the company believes the chemical is unsafe for consumers, said Cathy Yingling, a company spokeswoman.

Exposure to synthetic butter in food production and flavoring plants has been linked to hundreds of cases of workers whose lungs have been damaged or destroyed. Diacetyl is found naturally in milk, cheese, butter and other products.

Heated diacetyl becomes a vapor and, when inhaled over a long period of time, seems to lead the small airways in the lungs to become swollen and scarred. Sufferers can breathe in deeply, but they have difficulty exhaling. The severe form of the disease is called bronchiolitis obliterans or "popcorn workers' lung," which can be fatal.

The popcorn bags are made out of paper that has to be coated with a substance to repel grease and moisture so the bag doesn't become soggy and rip while it's getting heated in the microwave. The chemicals used to coat the paper break down, when heated, in to a substance called perfluorooctanoic (PFOA).

The Environmental Protection Agency has identified PFOA as a "likely carcinogen."

How much PFOA gets into the popcorn is still unknown. The FDA researchers did a study this past October about this question. They determined that it's a relatively small amount of PFOA that actually gets into the popcorn.

So the good news may be that you'd probably have to eat a lot of popcorn before you get enough PFOA into your body that it will cause cancer, but it's basically impossible for the FDA to tell how much PFOA would actually cause cancer.

Not only is the bag coating a carcinogen, but also the fake butter flavoring. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health determined that a disease that destroys lung tissue was triggered by exposure to the artificial butter flavoring. This study was done after 24 workers in a Missouri microwave popcorn plant got this disease that was destroying their lungs. And it wasn't just 24 workers affected. There were 130 other employees who had high rates of bronchitis and asthma from this butter flavoring.

What's in the fake butter? Diacetyl. It gives artificial butter its flavor and smell. This is an FDA-approved chemical that is also found in many wines, cookies, candies, beers, and cheese-flavored products.

How can the FDA approve something known to kill your lungs?

So before you make your next bag of microwave popcorn, thing of what it's doing to your health.

If you still want microwave popcorn, make your own. Use popcorn kernels bought in your grocery store. Place a serving of kernels into a brown paper bag, smear some butter on the inside of the bag facing upward, fluff out the bag and fold it over three time, then place it in the microwave on high for 4 minutes.

Or you could go back to the good old fashion method of popping kernels on the stove with a pot and oil.

You should stay away from things that "smell just like butter", "taste just like butter" but are not. Don't forget all those other products using artificial flavors. Artificial flavors are used mostly to cut expense for the manufacturer and still maintain a flavor. The real thing isn't used because it's too expensive… Isn't your health worth the expense of what is real, good and safe?

The information contained on this site is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

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Odds & Ends

Women over 40 need special supplements. Men do too, but they think they don't.

Preserve your eye sight with Vitamins C. The RDA says 75 mg, but the Nutrition and Vision Project, from scientists at Harvard and Tufts universities found that women younger that 60 need at least 352 mg of Vitamin C daily. And remember that any vitamin or mineral that is in capsule or tablet or powder is only absorbed by the body at about 7 to 10%. So in effect you think you are doing your health a service and almost 90% is going down the drain.

All vitamins and minerals should be in liquid form.

If you barbecue meat, don't char the meat. The National Cancer Institute studies found that ingesting heterocyclic amines (HCAs) which form in the blackened crust when meat is cooked at very high temperatures, ups you risk of developing colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers.

Another concern is the toxicity of charcoal-briquette lighting fluids, so consider switching to a gas or electric grill.

Encasing it in aluminum foil raises you chance of getting Alzheimer's. Aluminum is one of the contributing factors. So look at your underarm deodorants. Get on without aluminum, which is what most of them have.

According to a study conducted at Michigan State University in 19998, adding 1 part chopped tart cherries to 9 parts of hamburg reduced the HCAs bay almost 78%. Due probably because cherries contain antioxidants that hinder HCA formation. They say it make them more tasty.

The Hazards of Candles

Have you considered the health hazards of burning paraffin wax candles in your home?

Most candles are made of paraffin wax due to their cost effectiveness in using a petroleum by-product.

The main health concern with traditional paraffin wax candles is that the properties of paraffin wax, a derivative of crude oil, as well as the metal core wicks traditionally used are polluting our homes. The EPA states that indoor air quality is 3 times more polluted than outdoor air quality. Paraffin contributes substantially to the decline in indoor air quality.

A paraffin wax candle emits 11 toxins documented by the American Lung Association, 2 of which are known carcinogens–toluene and benzene.

Specialists in environmental medicine have occasionally noted problems resulting from candle use, indoor air pollution and related health problems appears to becoming more common due to the popularity of scented and aromatherapy candles. If candles are not properly manufactured, or contain too high quantities of fragranced oils that are not suitable for combustion, the result could be an indoor air quality problem.

In the U.S., the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has been receiving an increasing number of reports about black soot deposition. A prime suspect is the increased use of candles and other indoor combustible materials including incense, potpourri and oil lamps. The problem is so severe that North America’s largest indoor air quality conference, held in Texas in mid April, featured a workshop that presented the latest research and case studies on the effects of black soot from candles.

Soot is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, usually petroleum-based. The soot not only discolors walls and furniture, it can also contaminate your home’s ventilation system.

Soot is the source of the bright white/yellow light that candles emit. A flame without soot will burn blue, like the flame from a gas stove.

This soot penetrates not only furnishings, but air ducts as well, spreading fine particles of soot throughout the home.

While little or no research has been conducted into the health effects of exposure to candle soot, studies into the risks of exposure to soot from diesel exhaust and factory emissions suggest candle soot can be harmful.

Since soot particles are typically very small, they can potentially penetrate the deepest areas of the lung. Researchers caution that the very young, the elderly and those with respiratory diseases like asthma should avoid exposure to candle soot.

Soy has become the healthier alternative!

In recent years, soy and vegetable wax has been culminated and implemented in candle development. Soy wax components are completely non-toxic. The wax is made from soybeans and vegetables, both renewable resources. Soy wax burns much cleaner and purer as it is all natural, non-toxic, and non-hazardous.

Dangers in Carpeting

Over 60% of homes in the USA have carpeting. Carpets cover the floors of our business and schools. Children play for hours on them, infants crawl on them and breathe deeply of their fumes, proud homeowners inhale that 'new-carpet smell', and all the while we are being poisoned by the chemicals, allergens and toxic dust that lurks in our carpets.

Whether your carpets are new or old, they probably have more bad things in them than you want to imagine. The list is staggering. For new carpets there are 'volatile organic compounds' VOC's. These include toluene, benzene, formaldehyde, ethyl benzene, styrene, acetone and a host of other chemicals, some of which have already made the EPA's list of Extremely Hazardous Substances. Known carcinogens such as p-Dichlorobenzene are in new carpets, as are chemicals that produce fetal abnormalities in test animals. These chemicals also cause hallucinations, nerve damage and respiratory illness in humans.

Other compounds in new carpeting that affect your health are adhesives, stain protectors, mothproofing and flame retardants. That 'new carpet smell' comes from 4-PC, associated with eye, nose and upper respiratory problems that are suffered by many new carpet owners. 4-PC is used in the latex backing of 95% of US carpets. In 2000 the 3M Company removed the chemical perflouro-octanyl salphonate from their product, Scotchgard, because it had been found to cause reproductive problems in rats. It had also been found in high levels in the wildlife of urban areas. Mothproofing chemicals contain naphthalene, which is known to produce toxic reactions, especially in newborns. Fire retardants often contain PBDE's which are known to cause damage to thyroid, immune system and brain development functions in humans.

Older carpets can be more of a hazard than new ones: Not only do they contain the chemicals banned from more recent production, they also have had years to accumulate pounds of dust mites, dirt, pesticides and other toxins brought in on shoes, feet and pet's paws Did you know that your carpet can hold 8 times it's weight in toxin filled dirt and you can't even see the trapped dirt that your carpet is hiding! The EPA has stated that 80% of human exposure to pesticides happens indoors. Every time you spray for bugs or use a fogger, the chemicals settle in the rug and stay there for years. If you paint your room the curing paint leaves its VOC's in the carpet for you to inhale long after the walls no longer smells of paint. Just put in a new wood or laminate floor? You'll be living with those toxins, {sealers, solvents and glues} even after you clean with all the right products. Household dust contains lead and other heavy metals, because lead is in our soil and will be for a long time to come. Older carpets are so toxic that your chances of being exposed to hazardous chemicals are 10-50 times higher in a carpeted room than outdoors. If the carpet is plush or shag, your risk increases substantially.

What can you do? You can take action to reduce your exposure to carpet toxins. First, if you can, get rid of the carpeting. If not that, then vacuum with a Well Sealed High Quality HEPA Vacuum Cleaner that can do a much better job of cleaning your carpets then the cheaper vacuum cleaners found at most department stores. Low quality vacuum cleaners are not sealed well! Even many of the so called filtered ones often leak air through gaps in their cases causing dirty air to blow back into your indoor environment! Steam cleaning can kill dust mites and bacteria. A good doormat will stop a lot of toxins right at the door. Take your shoes off when entering your house and you make it a much safer place. If you must buy a rug or carpet, choose one made of naturally flame retardant fibers such as wool, and get a woven rug. Don't glue your new carpet to the floor, attach it with staples instead. Finally, get a Quality HEPA Air Cleaner or Air Purifier that will remove dust and toxins that rise from the carpet or rug every time you step on it or vacuum. If you follow as many of these precautions as possible, you will certainly have a cleaner and healthier home.

NRC Delivers Wake Up Call on Fluoride

Current allowable levels linked to bone fractures, tooth damage, and other toxic effects and links to arthritis.

WASHINGTON D.C. - An article on fluoride toxicity released today gives powerful evidence that many Americans are being over-dosed with harmful levels of fluoride. A wide range of health problems are cited in the report, with bones and teeth being the foremost, but not sole, targets of concern.

The current amount for fluoride, 4 parts per million (ppm), was set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect adults from crippling skeletal fluorosis, a severe arthritic bone disease. The NRC advises EPA to lower this standard because of strong evidence linking fluoride to bone fracture, joint pain, and damage to teeth.

The NRC also says a growing body of scientific research linking fluoride exposure to disruption of the including the brain, thyroid and pineal gland.

According to data presented in the report, the doses of fluoride associated with thyroid disturbances are now exceeded by many Americans - particularly children - living in so-called "low fluoride" (1 ppm) areas.

"The crucial message of this report is that the highest scientific authority in the US has determined that low levels of fluoride in drinking water may have serious adverse health effects," says Dr. Paul Connett, professor of chemistry at St Lawrence University and Executive Director of the Fluoride Action Network.

According to Dr. William Hirzy, a chemist at American University and vice president of EPA's Professionals Union in Washington D.C., "the difference between the levels of fluoride causing toxic effects and the levels added to water to prevent tooth decay is small and deeply troubling."

Fluoride is found in processed food, beverages, dental products, pesticide residues and polluted air. "The end result is that some people drinking water may ingest enough fluoride from all sources to experience a health problem," says Hirzy.

Because of concerns over fluoride's health risks, the NRC report calls on government agencies to introduce nationwide monitoring of fluoride levels in people's urine and blood.

Research is on going to clarify the relationship between fluoride and many chronic diseases including cancer, arthritis, dementia, diabetes, and thyroid disease.

"The NRC's report should change the fluoride debate for many years to come," notes Connett. "It shows that the best, and most recent, medical evidence provides reason for profound concern about current fluoride exposures."

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The Fluoride Action Network (FAN) is the leading science and advocacy group focused on health issues surrounding fluoride from water, food, air, pesticides, and industrial exposures. FAN's director was an invited presenter at the initial meeting of the NRC panel and FAN researchers submitted extensive scientific information throughout the panel's proceedings.

Contact: Paul Connett PhD, 802-355-0999, [email protected]

Things You Can Do with BOUNCE

This is incredible!

The US Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform pockets to keep yellow-jackets away.

Use them all the time when playing baseball and soccer. I use it when I am working outside. It really works. The yellow jackets just veer around you.

All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!

It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.

Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.

It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.

It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) Screen.

Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a Sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.

Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.