[ChuppyGirl]

Hello Dear Doc,

We always get medical alerts through e-mails and this is one of them and I'd love to know the reliability of this alert.

Many Thanks
Hanadi

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Please circulate to all you know Cancer update

John Hopkins -- Cancer News from John Hopkins


No plastic containers in micro


No water bottles in freezer.

No plastic wrap in microwave...

A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently,... Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked 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 especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body...

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen 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. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons...

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.
This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life!

[DocSanae]

Dioxins are known cancer hazards, yes, but about the circular? I don't know.
However, when you think of what dioxin is included in, most of this, especially about the heat, is somewhat common sense, but then, it could be true, or couldn't be true. I can't say.
Now, I can't say these circulars actually originated from a responsible source, when it comes to the internet, anyone can fake them, and the fact that a particular commercial product comes up by name, personally, I think it takes the momentum out of the truth.
The best thing would be to find the original source, in other words, this TV program where the said person is to have made these comments, and also, if that person actually exists.
Also, when you think of what prestigious medical institutions both Walter Reed and Johns Hopkins are, this kind of circular seems too casual. I think they would release such information, if it were true, as a press release with concrete data and the origin of the studies, the same as with all responsible academic researches and studies.

[fr1endly2]

I have heard of alot of these warnings....
and weather there true or not i watch
doing those things.
THE big one many parents due is freeze
the water bottles for kids doing the sports...
i wont risk it !!!!
and actually im careful not to over used the microwave
for the kids...i just feel moderation like anything else.

[celadon]

Lisa, that is a good rule of thumb. Moderation is certainly the key. Remember the huge scare about saccahirin? Supposedly everyone who ate it was going to get cancer, it was pulled of store shelves in a frenzy. Then the FDA released a statement that a human would have to injest an entire bottle of whole grain per day for five years to be at risk for cancer so back on the shelves it went! It has never been as popular since and look how bad the 'replacement' turned out to be. Aspartame has so many side effects it is scary.

So, with the plastic, I say moderation is the key.

I agree with Doc that such a prestigious institution would have had a world wide press release if they were the source of this document.

[MsVickie]

Chuppy honey I dont know if that is a true artical from John Hopkins or Walter Reed. What I can tell you this this.

I dont know if any of you all have noticed when your heating up somthing in the microwave in plastic if per chance it starts to boil....it can melt the plastic? Notice how we put food such as tomaotes or the sauce of the tomato and it stains our plastics.

Now the styrofoam at fast food was switched because of the enviroment nothing else. I know that for a fact. Take out places still use Styrofoam.

Personally Chuppy I dont use plastic anything to heat in the microwave. I use a regular plate meant for the microwave. The heat and eat things I do for lunch is in paper. Hard paper. I might have to rethink that one.

And the water bottle issue I never thought of. My hubbby takes some frozen with him on trips only to help cool the other water that is not frozen. He never drinks it. Works great to.

You have acutally brought up a issue here that I will personally find more out about for myself and my family so thank you Hanadi for the post !

[DocSanae]

One of the points that should be considered is, if anything is released, then in how long a time, and how much? And how much is needed to cause actual damage if any?
Look for not just an yes/no article, but something that has concrete data--how many what was tested in which way and how the results were statistically analyzed. Quite often, the same sources will be cited for completely opposite views. Be sure the check out the source itself, not just references to sources. That's why I'm rather wary of the stuff, at least the way it's come up, in Hanadi's first post. IF Walter Reed or Johns Hopkins was saying something like this, the name of the person to be contacted for the info should be cited, as should the original data. Though it may seem bona fide and sound scientific to those unfamiliar with academic scientific reports and how they are scrutinized by the academia, there are a heck of a lot of missing links.

[MsVickie]

Hanadi.

I had to go look. Went to John Hopkins web site and look what I found.
Researcher dispels Myth of Dioxins and Plastic Water Bottles

[DocSanae]

MsVickie, very well done!!
Going back to what is said to be the source is the best way to verify, and yes, there are lotsa stuff going around the internet that are, um, hoaxes.