ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 1156 deaths in a million person study 1982-2004, correlates with years of formaldehyde exposure [aspartame diet soda sold after fall 1983], MG Weisskopf et al, Harvard SPH 2008.04.16: Rich Murray 2008.09.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.htm
Saturday, September 20, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1558
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/faculty/marc-weisskopf/index.html
Marc G. Weisskopf
Mark and Catherine Winkler Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Department of Environmental Health
Department of Epidemiology
401 Park Dr., Rm 3-104
Landmark Center, PO Box 15697
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
617.384.8872 mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu
Education
ScB, Neuroscience, Brown University, 1989
PhD, Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, 1994
ScD, Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 2006
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/faculty/marc-weisskopf/files/AAN_ALS_chem_press_release.pdf
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 2:00 P.M. CT/3:00 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008
Media Contacts:
Angela Babb, (651) 695-2789, ababb@aan.com
Rachel Seroka, (651) 695-2738, rseroka@aan.com
AAN Press Room 179B (April 12–18): (312) 791-7053
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ISwNRe4Xk&feature=related 4:15 minute video by John Gever, Medscape Today
http://www.4woman.gov/News/English/614428.htm
http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=614428
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=88726
"...there are only about 5,500 new cases in the United States each year."
Formaldehyde Linked to Lou Gehrig's Disease
By Randy Dotinga Health Day Reporter
WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2008 (HealthDay News) -- New preliminary research suggests that exposure to the chemical formaldehyde, present in a variety of workplaces, could greatly increase a person's chances of developing Lou Gehrig's disease.
The findings aren't definitive, and only a few thousand Americans are diagnosed with the condition -- also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- each year.
Still, the study results deserve attention, especially since formaldehyde hasn't been considered an ALS risk factor before, said study author Marc Weisskopf, an assistant professor of epidemiology and environmental health at Harvard School of Public Health. "It's a result that we view as very intriguing and worthy of follow-up."
The findings were scheduled to be released Wednesday at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, in Chicago.
ALS progressively causes damage to the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Patients lose the ability to control their muscles, and they typically become paralyzed. There's no cure for ALS, and treatments have limited value.
Weisskopf and his colleagues examined statistics from an American Cancer Society study of more than 1 million people who were followed for 15 years.
The researchers first examined the participants' responses in 1982 to questions about exposure to 12 different chemicals, including formaldehyde.
Then they followed up between 1989 and 2004 to see what happened to those people.
The researchers found that 617 men and 539 women died of ALS during the study period. Only those who reported exposure to formaldehyde had a higher risk -- 34 percent higher -- of developing ALS.
Formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of a variety of products, including particle board, clothing, glues, cosmetics and shampoo. People who work in medical facilities and mortuaries may also encounter it on the job.
The pungent chemical has already been linked to higher rates of lung cancer and leukemia. It was not declared a probable human carcinogen at high exposure levels by the Environmental Protection Agency until 1987.
Those who reported more than 10 years of exposure to formaldehyde were almost four times more likely to develop ALS.
According to Weisskopf, the study design didn't allow him to estimate how many extra people may develop ALS because they are exposed to formaldehyde.
However, he said there are only about 5,500 new cases in the United States each year.
Researchers have considered pesticides to be a possible cause of ALS, but formaldehyde hasn't been raised as a villain before, Weisskopf said. It's not clear how it might be linked to development of the disease, but Weisskopf said it could set off brain damage by increasing the "stress" caused by oxygen.
It's possible that other factors besides formaldehyde may be causing ALS in the study participants. Indeed, Weisskopf said the findings don't confirm a cause-and-effect relationship: "That's very hard to do. But it does provide an avenue to get more insight into the disease process, and it may give us insight that's helpful in determining other avenues to take."
Dr. Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, director of the ALS Center at the University of California, San Francisco, said it's too early for anyone to worry too much about the findings.
The research "means studies can be done in ALS rats or mice to see if formaldehyde worsens the disease process," she said, but, "I don't think we understand environmental factors very well, and in what way they affect disease processes."
"If we knew more about what causes ALS, we might know more about how formaldehydes and other chemicals might [play a role]," she added.
SOURCES: Marc Weisskopf, Ph.D., assistant professor, epidemiology and environmental health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston; Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, M.D., Ph.D., director, ALS Center, University of California, San Francisco; April 16, 2008, presentation, American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Chicago
Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Regular formaldehyde exposure increased ALS risk by 34%.
In addition, the longer the self-reported exposure to
formaldehyde, the higher the risk for ALS.
Thus, compared with those reporting no exposure, the adjusted relative risk for ALS was 1.5 in individuals who reported less than four years of exposure, 2.1 in those with four to 10 years of exposure, and 4.1 in those with more than 10 years of exposure.
Overall, 2.6% of participants reported that they had been exposed to formaldehyde."
"Nearly 25% of beauticians reported that they were exposed to formaldehyde.
Pharmacists, morticians, radio/lab technicians, dentists, firemen, photographers, printers, doctors, and nurses also reported high rates of formaldehyde exposure. Individuals in these high-exposure jobs had a 28% greater risk for ALS."
"There are several possible mechanisms for formaldehyde neurotoxicity, said Dr. Weisskopf.
These include hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons, reduced excitability of the isolated phrenic nerve, prefrontal cortex/hippocampal neurotoxicity, a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity, an increase in malondialdehyde, and toxic tau protein misfolding."
"...other factors that might contribute to ALS were controlled for, including sex, smoking status, military service, level of education, alcohol intake, occupation, vitamin E supplement use, and exposure to other chemicals."
http://www.neurologyreviews.com/08june/FormaldehydeALS.html
Neurology Reviews.Com
Vol. 16, No. 6 June 2008
Formaldehyde Exposure May Pose Risk for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
CHICAGO -- Preliminary results suggest that exposure to the chemical formaldehyde may increase the risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a report at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers found that people with more than 10 years of exposure to formaldehyde had a 4.1 times increased risk for ALS, compared with those who had no exposure.
“While pesticides have been thought to contribute to the development of ALS, this is the first time that formaldehyde has been identified as a potential risk factor,” commented Marc Weisskopf, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
Formaldehyde is used in particleboard and other wood products, permanent press fabrics, glues, photography chemicals, and other household products, such as cosmetics and shampoo. It is also used as a tissue preservative in medical laboratories and mortuaries and as an industrial disinfectant. About 20 years ago, the US Environmental Protection Agency designated high levels of formaldehyde as a probable carcinogen.
EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS AND RISK FOR ALS
Prior research has suggested that environmental toxins, including
pesticides, may be associated with ALS. This notion has been backed by case-control and genetic studies implicating genes involved in pesticide detoxification, said Dr. Weisskopf. However, the findings have been contradictory, and there have been no large prospective studies to support this hypothesis.
In the present investigation, Dr. Weisskopf’s group prospectively examined the relationship between regular exposure to 12 types of chemicals and ALS in 987,229 individuals who participated in the American Cancer Society-sponsored Cancer Prevention Study II. Participants were asked about their exposure to chemicals, including formaldehyde, in 1982, and they were then followed for approximately 15 years. The researchers also analyzed exposure to asbestos, acids/solvents, coal or stone dust, coal tar pitch/asphalt, diesel engine exhaust, dyes, gasoline exhaust,
pesticides/herbicides, textile fibers/dust, wood dust, and x-ray/radioactive material.
Overall, 617 men and 539 women died from ALS during the follow-up period.
Regular formaldehyde exposure increased ALS risk by 34%.
In addition, the longer the self-reported exposure to formaldehyde, the higher the risk for ALS.
Thus, compared with those reporting no exposure, the adjusted relative risk for ALS was 1.5 in individuals who reported less than four years of exposure, 2.1 in those with four to 10 years of exposure, and 4.1 in those with more than 10 years of exposure. Overall, 2.6% of participants reported that they had been exposed to formaldehyde.
By contrast, there was limited evidence for an association between ALS and pesticides/herbicides.
The study also found that an increased risk for ALS was seen with certain jobs. Nearly 25% of beauticians reported that they were exposed to formaldehyde.
Pharmacists, morticians, radio/lab technicians, dentists, firemen, photographers, printers, doctors, and nurses also reported high rates of formaldehyde exposure. Individuals in these high-exposure jobs had a 28% greater risk for ALS.
There are several possible mechanisms for formaldehyde neurotoxicity, said Dr. Weisskopf.
These include hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons, reduced excitability of the isolated phrenic nerve, prefrontal cortex/hippocampal neurotoxicity, a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity, an increase in malondialdehyde, and toxic tau protein misfolding
A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP FOR ALS AND FORMALDEHYDE?
Dr. Weisskopf noted that the longitudinal design of the study minimizes the possibility that the results are due to bias. Additional strengths of the study include its large size and uniform case ascertainment, as well as the fact that other factors that might contribute to ALS were controlled for, including sex, smoking status, military service, level of education, alcohol intake, occupation, vitamin E supplement use, and exposure to other chemicals.
Possible limitations of the study include small numbers in some exposure categories, as well as self-assessment of exposure. In addition, only mortality data were used to identify ALS cases. Dr. Weisskopf noted, however, that because death certificates have been reported to accurately identify 70% to 80% of ALS-related deaths, they might be a reasonable surrogate for ALS incidence, due to the short survival time associated with the disease.
Dr. Weisskopf emphasized that the findings are preliminary and do not establish a causal relationship between formaldehyde and ALS. “At the moment, it is premature to make broad public health recommendations, and corroboration of the data is needed,” he concluded.
NR -- Jill Stein
Suggested Reading
Morahan JM, Pamphlett R. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and exposure to environmental toxins: an Australian case-control study. Neuroepidemiology. 2006;27(3):130-135.
Morahan JM, Yu B, Trent RJ, Pamphlett R. A gene-environment study of the paraoxonase 1 gene and pesticides in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurotoxicology. 2007;28(3):532-540.
Neuroepidemiology. 2006; 27(3): 130-5. Epub 2006 Aug 1.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and exposure to environmental toxins: an Australian case-control study.
Morahan JM, Pamphlett R.
Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
It has been suggested that environmental toxins could be risk factors for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS).
We therefore analysed epidemiological data on 179 SALS cases and 179 age-, ethnicity- and sex-matched controls in Australia using self-reporting questionnaires. SALS was associated with solvent/chemical exposure (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.26-2.93), overall herbicide/pesticide exposure (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.03-2.41) and industrial herbicide/pesticide exposure (OR = 5.58, 95% CI: 2.07-15.06).
Exposure to herbicides/pesticides showed a dose-response effect.
All positive findings were more statistically significant in males.
These findings support those from northern hemisphere studies, indicating that environmental toxins can be risk factors for SALS. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel. PMID: 16946624
http://www.usyd.edu.au/research/opportunities/supervisors/128
Dr Morahan, Julia
position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
department: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences
phone: +61 2 9036 7233 fax: +61 2 9351 3429
email: morahanj@med.usyd.edu.au
location: Level 5, Room 502a
address: D06 - Blackburn
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
Associate Professor Pamphlett, Roger
position: Associate Professor
department: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences
phone: +61 2 9351 3318 fax: +61 2 9351 3429
email: rogerp@med.usyd.edu.au
location: Room 502A
address: D06 - Blackburn
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
About Associate Professor Roger Pamphlett
To find a genetic cause for motor neuron disease that will enable gene therapy to halt this devastating condition.
Roger Pamphlett is a neurologist and neuropathologist who works with a team of molecular geneticists in trying to find a genetic cause for motor neuron disease.
Prof Pamphlett’s research in the pathogenesis of ALS started by examining the role of environmental agents. He published 20 papers on the relationship between heavy metals and ALS, using both human tissue and animal models.
This body of work showed that heavy metals enter motor neurons selectively, but that the metals by themselves are unlikely to cause ALS. This raised the possibility that genetic susceptibility to these environmental toxins may underlie ALS.
To look for genetic susceptibilities to ALS he has set up the Australian MND DNA Bank. He travels to all Australian mainland states collecting blood samples from people with ALS as well as controls. This Bank, supported by an NHMRC Enabling Grant, now contains over 1,400 DNA samples. Participants fill in detailed questionnaires to allow gene-environment studies to be undertaken. Using DNA from this Bank it has been shown that polymorphisms in the poliovirus receptor are more common in some forms of MND, and a variety of other genes that protect against toxins and viruses are under investigation.
Prof Pamphlett is now interested in novel genetic mechanisms that could underlie sporadic ALS, such as mutations that affect CNS cells predominantly (somatic mutations). To examine these possibilities he recruits ALS patients in NSW to donate their brains and spinal cords after they die to a Tissue Bank, and collaborates with other Banks in Australia and the UK to obtain further tissue samples.
Epidemiology. 2008 Mar; 19(2): 324-37.
Diet and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Morozova N, Weisskopf MG, McCullough ML, Munger KL, Calle EE, Thun MJ, Ascherio A.Natalia Morozova; Marc G. Weisskopf; Marjorie L. McCullough; Kassandra L. Munger; Eugenia E. Calle; Michael J. Thun; Alberto Ascherio Departments of *Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA. nmorozov@hsph.harvard.edu; mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu; marji.mccullough@cancer.org; hpklg@channing.harvard.edu; aascheri@hsph.harvard.edu; kgorham@hsph.harvard.edu; mthun@cancer.org; jcalle@cancer.org; ethacker@post.harvard.edu;
BACKGROUND:
Several dietary factors have been associated with risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in case-control studies, but no prospective studies have investigated diet and ALS.
METHODS:
We prospectively assessed the association of selected foods and beverages with ALS mortality among participants of the Cancer Prevention Study II, a cohort of over 1 million men and women enrolled in 1982.
Habitual diet was assessed with a 44-item food frequency questionnaire.
Participant follow-up was conducted from 1989 through 2002 for ALS mortality.
RESULTS:
During the follow-up period, 862 cohort participants died of ALS.
The strongest finding was an inverse association between chicken consumption and risk of ALS (P for trend = 0.0006).
We also observed an increased risk of ALS among study participants with a high consumption of brown rice/whole wheat/barley (P for trend = 0.006) and decaffeinated coffee (P for trend = 0.01), and a decreased risk of ALS for high consumption of tea (P for trend = 0.02)and French fries (P for trend = 0.02); however, none of these latter associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons.
CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, these results do not provide convincing evidence that the investigated food items are related to ALS mortality.
The association observed between chicken consumption and ALS mortality should be assessed in other studies.
PMID: 18300717 tobacco, alcohol drinks, and aspartame all expose people to methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid: Rich Murray 2008.09.20 formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series, Sharon E Jacob-Soo, Sarah A Stechschulte, UCSD, Dermatitis 2008 May: Rich Murray 2008.07.18
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 18, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553
___________________________________________________
Dermatitis. 2008 May-Jun; 19(3): E10-1. Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines: a possible connection.
Jacob SE, Stechschulte S. Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener that has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.
Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into
formaldehyde in various tissues.
We present the first case series of aspartame-associated migraines related to clinically relevant positive reactions to formaldehyde on patch testing. PMID: 18627677 formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele, G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging 2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533
"For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame (Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological degradation.
One of aspartame's metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester, is
converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes.
Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been seen to improve once aspartame is avoided.
Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week of avoiding diet soda."
Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame,
vitamins, shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes, Sharon E Jacob, MD, Tace Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals 2007 Jan.: eyelid contact dermatitis, AM Hill, DV Belsito, 2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532
Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology)
University of California, San Diego 200 W. Arbor Drive #8420, San
Diego, CA 92103-8420
Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317 sjacob@contactderm.net;
Dermatitis. 2008 Jan-Feb;19(1):9-15.
Systemic contact dermatitis.
Jacob SE, Zapolanski T. tamar.zapolanski@gmail.com;
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Systemic exposure to allergens resulting in a cutaneous eruption is known as systemic contact dermatitis (SCD).
Once sensitization occurs, varying exposures to antigens via multiple routes (including transepidermal routes, intravenous or intramuscular routes, inhalation, and ingestion) can result in systemic flare.
This article highlights the different categories of common
contactants, metals, medications, and plants, exposure to which leads to SCD.
A comprehensive approach that takes into account all possible routes of exposure is essential in diagnosing SCD and in helping patients successfully avoid their allergens. PMID: 18346390
"We present a case of a medical student who presented with
erythematous eczematoid plaques on her trunk and legs and fine
vesiculation of her scalp, 3 weeks after starting anatomy class.
Of note, she routinely washed her face and arms after leaving the
anatomy lab, but remained in her scrubs for the rest of the day.
Formaldehyde and Quaternium-15 positive reactions in the same patient."
"Our patient underscores the importance of appropriate patch testing and education.
Once we identified the allergy to formaldehyde and quaternium-15, we provided patient education materials regarding the common and not-so-common locations of these chemicals and cross-reactors.
We also gave the patient information on avoidance and safe
alternatives (see Table 5).
Fortunately, with technical advances, this student completed the
anatomy section via electronic learning tools.
By avoiding formaldehyde, including anatomy lab, FRP in her shampoo and cosmetics, and aspartame in her diet, this patient dramatically improved.
As with all contact dermatitides, the mainstay of treatment for
allergic contact dermatitis is avoidance."
http://www.skinandaging.com/article/5158 Skin & Aging Journal
ISSN: 1096-0120 - Volume 13 - Issue 12_2005 - December 2005 - Pages: 22 - 27
Allergen Focus:
Focus on T.R.U.E. Test Allergens #21, 13 and 18:
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
-- By Sharon E. Jacob, M.D., Tace Steele, B.A., [now MD] and Georgette Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H.
http://www.eczemacenter.org/eczema_center/meetfacultystaff.htm
[ photo ]
The Eczema Center
Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego
8010 Frost Street, Suite 602, San Diego, CA 92123
or call... (858) 966-6774
Sharon E. Jacob , MD
Dr. Sharon E. Jacob is Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine (Dermatology) at the University of California, School of Medicine and Rady Children's Hospital.
She earned her medical degree from the Temple University, and
completed dermatology training at the University of Miami and advanced contact dermatitis training at New York University (NYU). She has been board certified in dermatology.
Dr. Jacob's clinical interests include atopic and contact dermatitis and education.
She is considered a national expert on chemical sensitivities in the skin and has published more than 45 journal articles, book chapters and abstracts on this topic.
In 2005, Dr Jacob was the first to present contact dermatitis data on U.S. pediatric patients to the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS).
She has received an excellence in teaching award from the University of Miami Dermatology and the Clinical Research Award from the ACDS.
She is an active reviewer for the following medical publications
including Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology, Dermatitis, and the Archives of Dermatology. Dr. Jacob also serves on the medical board of the Inflammatory Skin Disease Institute and the Skin and Aging Journal.
Dr. Jacob enjoys taking care of children and their families and is an advocate for children's dermatologic health.
http://www.eczemacenter.org/eczema_center/index.htm
Atopic dermatitis (AD) -- better known as eczema -- is the most common chronic skin disorder seen in infants and children.
In fact, the prevalence of this condition has risen dramatically
during the last three decades.
Currently, 15% to 20% of children in the United States are expected to experience this condition sometime during their lifetime, compared to 7% around 1960.
The negative impact of eczema is profound and insidious.
It affects both the patient who suffers from it and that patient's family members, and it does so on two important levels -- physical and emotional.
Physical:
Inflamed, itchy rashes can involve any and all of the skin surfaces and are frequently complicated by skin breakdown and bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
It is linked to the development of life-long allergic conditions,
including asthma, food allergies, and rhinitis.
Any level of AD is extremely uncomfortable and, at times, painful.
Individuals with moderate to severe disease report that eczema hugely disturbs their sleep and impacts performance of daily activities, including adverse effects on school, sports
activities, work, and peer relationships.
In studies, individuals with eczema reported more negative impact on quality of life than those with insulin-dependent diabetes!
Emotional:
Patients and their families experience considerable emotional
distress, anxiety, and embarrassment because of people's response to this illness.
In fact, the emotional scarring on both patient and family members may outlast eczema's physical effects.
Parents especially suffer because it is difficult for children
experiencing this condition to understand that their parents cannot make the torment go away.
The stress of caring for these children is even greater than parents caring for a child with insulin-dependent diabetes.
Patients experience considerable discrimination and social isolation because of this illness.
People often stare, shiver with disgust or step back in fear from
those who have this condition.
The end result for patients: A life-time of struggle with their sense of worth and self esteem.
http://aad2008.omnibooksonline.com/data/papers/CRS-113-F.pdf lecture with photos
___________________________________________________
Similar levels of daily formaldehyde and formic acid, causes of birth defects, come from cigarettes, aspartame, and dark wines and liquors -- folic acid protects most people: Rich Murray 2008.07.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1552
http://www.divine.ca/en/health-and-wellness/articles/c_16_i_3295/5-reasons-to-quit-smoking-1.html
"A smoker who goes through one pack a day will smoke 7,300 cigarettes a year, inhaling the equivalent of nearly 1 gram of formaldehyde
(yikes!)."
That's about 2.5 mg daily formaldehyde intake for 20 cigarettes, over
the 2 mg USA FDA alarm level for formaldehyde in average 2 liters
daily drinking water, while a single 12 oz can of diet soda also
results in about 2 mg formaldehyde toxic products in the body,
including formic acid, a notorious cause of birth defects.
Dark wines and liquors usually supply even more methanol, which the body always turns into formaldehyde and formic acid -- the major cause of "morning after" hangovers.
High levels of folic acid, a safe, affordable vitamin in fruits and vegetables, largely prevents formaldehyde and formic acid toxicity in most people.
It is certain that high levels of aspartame use, above 2 liters daily for months and years, must lead to chronic
formaldehyde-formic acid toxicity.
Fully 11 % of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame in 2 liters diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol). The methanol is immediately released into the body after drinking .
Within hours, the liver turns much of the methanol into formaldehyde, and then much of that into formic acid, both of which in time are partially eliminated as carbon dioxide and water.
However, about 30 % of the methanol remains in the body as cumulative durable toxic metabolites of formaldehyde and formic acid -- 37 mg daily, a gram every month, accumulating in and affecting every tissue.
If only 10 % of the methanol is retained daily as formaldehyde, that would give 12 mg daily formaldehyde accumulation -- about 60 times more than the 0.2 mg from 10 % retention of the 2 mg EPA daily limit for formaldehyde in drinking water.
Bear in mind that the EPA limit for formaldehyde in drinking water is 1 ppm, or 2 mg daily for a typical daily consumption of 2 liters of water.
Formaldehyde and formic acid in FEMA trailers and other sources
(aspartame, dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508
The FEMA trailers give about the same amount of formaldehyde and
formic acid daily as from a quart of dark wine or liquor, or two
quarts (6 12-oz cans) of aspartame diet soda, from their over 1 tenth gram methanol impurity (one part in 10,000), which the body quickly makes into formaldehyde and then formic acid -- enough to be the major cause of "morning after" alcohol hangovers.
Methanol and formaldehyde and formic acid also result from many fruits and vegetables, tobacco and wood smoke, heater and vehicle exhaust, household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, and new cars, drapes,carpets, furniture, particleboard, mobile homes, buildings, leather... so all these sources add up and interact with many other toxic chemicals.
two aspartame toxicity research studies by Resia Pretorius,
U. Pretoria, South Africa, debate with JD Fernstrom:
Murray 2008.04.04
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.htm
Friday, April 4, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1536
methanol impurity in alcohol drinks [ and aspartame ] is turned into neurotoxic formic acid, prevented by folic acid, re Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, BM Kapur, DC Lehotay, PL Carlen at U. Toronto, Alc Clin Exp Res 2007 Dec. plain text: detailed biochemistry, CL Nie et al. 2007.07.18: Murray 2008.02.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.htm
Sunday, February 24, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1524
opportunities re BA Magnuson, GA Burdock et al., Aspartame Safety
Evaluation 2007 Sept., Critical Reviews in Toxicology:
Rich Murray 2008.07.11
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 11, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1550
___________________________________________________
"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and positively act upon evidence about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."
Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@comcast.net
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 135 members, 1,564 posts in a public archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,137 members, 22,958 posts in a public archive
___________________________________________________
Continue lendo
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.htm
Saturday, September 20, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1558
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/faculty/marc-weisskopf/index.html
Marc G. Weisskopf
Mark and Catherine Winkler Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Department of Environmental Health
Department of Epidemiology
401 Park Dr., Rm 3-104
Landmark Center, PO Box 15697
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
617.384.8872 mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu
Education
ScB, Neuroscience, Brown University, 1989
PhD, Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, 1994
ScD, Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 2006
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/faculty/marc-weisskopf/files/AAN_ALS_chem_press_release.pdf
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 2:00 P.M. CT/3:00 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008
Media Contacts:
Angela Babb, (651) 695-2789, ababb@aan.com
Rachel Seroka, (651) 695-2738, rseroka@aan.com
AAN Press Room 179B (April 12–18): (312) 791-7053
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ISwNRe4Xk&feature=related 4:15 minute video by John Gever, Medscape Today
http://www.4woman.gov/News/English/614428.htm
http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docid=614428
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=88726
"...there are only about 5,500 new cases in the United States each year."
Formaldehyde Linked to Lou Gehrig's Disease
By Randy Dotinga Health Day Reporter
WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2008 (HealthDay News) -- New preliminary research suggests that exposure to the chemical formaldehyde, present in a variety of workplaces, could greatly increase a person's chances of developing Lou Gehrig's disease.
The findings aren't definitive, and only a few thousand Americans are diagnosed with the condition -- also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- each year.
Still, the study results deserve attention, especially since formaldehyde hasn't been considered an ALS risk factor before, said study author Marc Weisskopf, an assistant professor of epidemiology and environmental health at Harvard School of Public Health. "It's a result that we view as very intriguing and worthy of follow-up."
The findings were scheduled to be released Wednesday at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, in Chicago.
ALS progressively causes damage to the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Patients lose the ability to control their muscles, and they typically become paralyzed. There's no cure for ALS, and treatments have limited value.
Weisskopf and his colleagues examined statistics from an American Cancer Society study of more than 1 million people who were followed for 15 years.
The researchers first examined the participants' responses in 1982 to questions about exposure to 12 different chemicals, including formaldehyde.
Then they followed up between 1989 and 2004 to see what happened to those people.
The researchers found that 617 men and 539 women died of ALS during the study period. Only those who reported exposure to formaldehyde had a higher risk -- 34 percent higher -- of developing ALS.
Formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of a variety of products, including particle board, clothing, glues, cosmetics and shampoo. People who work in medical facilities and mortuaries may also encounter it on the job.
The pungent chemical has already been linked to higher rates of lung cancer and leukemia. It was not declared a probable human carcinogen at high exposure levels by the Environmental Protection Agency until 1987.
Those who reported more than 10 years of exposure to formaldehyde were almost four times more likely to develop ALS.
According to Weisskopf, the study design didn't allow him to estimate how many extra people may develop ALS because they are exposed to formaldehyde.
However, he said there are only about 5,500 new cases in the United States each year.
Researchers have considered pesticides to be a possible cause of ALS, but formaldehyde hasn't been raised as a villain before, Weisskopf said. It's not clear how it might be linked to development of the disease, but Weisskopf said it could set off brain damage by increasing the "stress" caused by oxygen.
It's possible that other factors besides formaldehyde may be causing ALS in the study participants. Indeed, Weisskopf said the findings don't confirm a cause-and-effect relationship: "That's very hard to do. But it does provide an avenue to get more insight into the disease process, and it may give us insight that's helpful in determining other avenues to take."
Dr. Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, director of the ALS Center at the University of California, San Francisco, said it's too early for anyone to worry too much about the findings.
The research "means studies can be done in ALS rats or mice to see if formaldehyde worsens the disease process," she said, but, "I don't think we understand environmental factors very well, and in what way they affect disease processes."
"If we knew more about what causes ALS, we might know more about how formaldehydes and other chemicals might [play a role]," she added.
SOURCES: Marc Weisskopf, Ph.D., assistant professor, epidemiology and environmental health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston; Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, M.D., Ph.D., director, ALS Center, University of California, San Francisco; April 16, 2008, presentation, American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Chicago
Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Regular formaldehyde exposure increased ALS risk by 34%.
In addition, the longer the self-reported exposure to
formaldehyde, the higher the risk for ALS.
Thus, compared with those reporting no exposure, the adjusted relative risk for ALS was 1.5 in individuals who reported less than four years of exposure, 2.1 in those with four to 10 years of exposure, and 4.1 in those with more than 10 years of exposure.
Overall, 2.6% of participants reported that they had been exposed to formaldehyde."
"Nearly 25% of beauticians reported that they were exposed to formaldehyde.
Pharmacists, morticians, radio/lab technicians, dentists, firemen, photographers, printers, doctors, and nurses also reported high rates of formaldehyde exposure. Individuals in these high-exposure jobs had a 28% greater risk for ALS."
"There are several possible mechanisms for formaldehyde neurotoxicity, said Dr. Weisskopf.
These include hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons, reduced excitability of the isolated phrenic nerve, prefrontal cortex/hippocampal neurotoxicity, a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity, an increase in malondialdehyde, and toxic tau protein misfolding."
"...other factors that might contribute to ALS were controlled for, including sex, smoking status, military service, level of education, alcohol intake, occupation, vitamin E supplement use, and exposure to other chemicals."
http://www.neurologyreviews.com/08june/FormaldehydeALS.html
Neurology Reviews.Com
Vol. 16, No. 6 June 2008
Formaldehyde Exposure May Pose Risk for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
CHICAGO -- Preliminary results suggest that exposure to the chemical formaldehyde may increase the risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a report at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers found that people with more than 10 years of exposure to formaldehyde had a 4.1 times increased risk for ALS, compared with those who had no exposure.
“While pesticides have been thought to contribute to the development of ALS, this is the first time that formaldehyde has been identified as a potential risk factor,” commented Marc Weisskopf, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
Formaldehyde is used in particleboard and other wood products, permanent press fabrics, glues, photography chemicals, and other household products, such as cosmetics and shampoo. It is also used as a tissue preservative in medical laboratories and mortuaries and as an industrial disinfectant. About 20 years ago, the US Environmental Protection Agency designated high levels of formaldehyde as a probable carcinogen.
EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS AND RISK FOR ALS
Prior research has suggested that environmental toxins, including
pesticides, may be associated with ALS. This notion has been backed by case-control and genetic studies implicating genes involved in pesticide detoxification, said Dr. Weisskopf. However, the findings have been contradictory, and there have been no large prospective studies to support this hypothesis.
In the present investigation, Dr. Weisskopf’s group prospectively examined the relationship between regular exposure to 12 types of chemicals and ALS in 987,229 individuals who participated in the American Cancer Society-sponsored Cancer Prevention Study II. Participants were asked about their exposure to chemicals, including formaldehyde, in 1982, and they were then followed for approximately 15 years. The researchers also analyzed exposure to asbestos, acids/solvents, coal or stone dust, coal tar pitch/asphalt, diesel engine exhaust, dyes, gasoline exhaust,
pesticides/herbicides, textile fibers/dust, wood dust, and x-ray/radioactive material.
Overall, 617 men and 539 women died from ALS during the follow-up period.
Regular formaldehyde exposure increased ALS risk by 34%.
In addition, the longer the self-reported exposure to formaldehyde, the higher the risk for ALS.
Thus, compared with those reporting no exposure, the adjusted relative risk for ALS was 1.5 in individuals who reported less than four years of exposure, 2.1 in those with four to 10 years of exposure, and 4.1 in those with more than 10 years of exposure. Overall, 2.6% of participants reported that they had been exposed to formaldehyde.
By contrast, there was limited evidence for an association between ALS and pesticides/herbicides.
The study also found that an increased risk for ALS was seen with certain jobs. Nearly 25% of beauticians reported that they were exposed to formaldehyde.
Pharmacists, morticians, radio/lab technicians, dentists, firemen, photographers, printers, doctors, and nurses also reported high rates of formaldehyde exposure. Individuals in these high-exposure jobs had a 28% greater risk for ALS.
There are several possible mechanisms for formaldehyde neurotoxicity, said Dr. Weisskopf.
These include hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons, reduced excitability of the isolated phrenic nerve, prefrontal cortex/hippocampal neurotoxicity, a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity, an increase in malondialdehyde, and toxic tau protein misfolding
A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP FOR ALS AND FORMALDEHYDE?
Dr. Weisskopf noted that the longitudinal design of the study minimizes the possibility that the results are due to bias. Additional strengths of the study include its large size and uniform case ascertainment, as well as the fact that other factors that might contribute to ALS were controlled for, including sex, smoking status, military service, level of education, alcohol intake, occupation, vitamin E supplement use, and exposure to other chemicals.
Possible limitations of the study include small numbers in some exposure categories, as well as self-assessment of exposure. In addition, only mortality data were used to identify ALS cases. Dr. Weisskopf noted, however, that because death certificates have been reported to accurately identify 70% to 80% of ALS-related deaths, they might be a reasonable surrogate for ALS incidence, due to the short survival time associated with the disease.
Dr. Weisskopf emphasized that the findings are preliminary and do not establish a causal relationship between formaldehyde and ALS. “At the moment, it is premature to make broad public health recommendations, and corroboration of the data is needed,” he concluded.
NR -- Jill Stein
Suggested Reading
Morahan JM, Pamphlett R. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and exposure to environmental toxins: an Australian case-control study. Neuroepidemiology. 2006;27(3):130-135.
Morahan JM, Yu B, Trent RJ, Pamphlett R. A gene-environment study of the paraoxonase 1 gene and pesticides in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurotoxicology. 2007;28(3):532-540.
Neuroepidemiology. 2006; 27(3): 130-5. Epub 2006 Aug 1.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and exposure to environmental toxins: an Australian case-control study.
Morahan JM, Pamphlett R.
Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
It has been suggested that environmental toxins could be risk factors for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS).
We therefore analysed epidemiological data on 179 SALS cases and 179 age-, ethnicity- and sex-matched controls in Australia using self-reporting questionnaires. SALS was associated with solvent/chemical exposure (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.26-2.93), overall herbicide/pesticide exposure (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.03-2.41) and industrial herbicide/pesticide exposure (OR = 5.58, 95% CI: 2.07-15.06).
Exposure to herbicides/pesticides showed a dose-response effect.
All positive findings were more statistically significant in males.
These findings support those from northern hemisphere studies, indicating that environmental toxins can be risk factors for SALS. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel. PMID: 16946624
http://www.usyd.edu.au/research/opportunities/supervisors/128
Dr Morahan, Julia
position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
department: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences
phone: +61 2 9036 7233 fax: +61 2 9351 3429
email: morahanj@med.usyd.edu.au
location: Level 5, Room 502a
address: D06 - Blackburn
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
Associate Professor Pamphlett, Roger
position: Associate Professor
department: Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences
phone: +61 2 9351 3318 fax: +61 2 9351 3429
email: rogerp@med.usyd.edu.au
location: Room 502A
address: D06 - Blackburn
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
About Associate Professor Roger Pamphlett
To find a genetic cause for motor neuron disease that will enable gene therapy to halt this devastating condition.
Roger Pamphlett is a neurologist and neuropathologist who works with a team of molecular geneticists in trying to find a genetic cause for motor neuron disease.
Prof Pamphlett’s research in the pathogenesis of ALS started by examining the role of environmental agents. He published 20 papers on the relationship between heavy metals and ALS, using both human tissue and animal models.
This body of work showed that heavy metals enter motor neurons selectively, but that the metals by themselves are unlikely to cause ALS. This raised the possibility that genetic susceptibility to these environmental toxins may underlie ALS.
To look for genetic susceptibilities to ALS he has set up the Australian MND DNA Bank. He travels to all Australian mainland states collecting blood samples from people with ALS as well as controls. This Bank, supported by an NHMRC Enabling Grant, now contains over 1,400 DNA samples. Participants fill in detailed questionnaires to allow gene-environment studies to be undertaken. Using DNA from this Bank it has been shown that polymorphisms in the poliovirus receptor are more common in some forms of MND, and a variety of other genes that protect against toxins and viruses are under investigation.
Prof Pamphlett is now interested in novel genetic mechanisms that could underlie sporadic ALS, such as mutations that affect CNS cells predominantly (somatic mutations). To examine these possibilities he recruits ALS patients in NSW to donate their brains and spinal cords after they die to a Tissue Bank, and collaborates with other Banks in Australia and the UK to obtain further tissue samples.
Epidemiology. 2008 Mar; 19(2): 324-37.
Diet and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Morozova N, Weisskopf MG, McCullough ML, Munger KL, Calle EE, Thun MJ, Ascherio A.Natalia Morozova; Marc G. Weisskopf; Marjorie L. McCullough; Kassandra L. Munger; Eugenia E. Calle; Michael J. Thun; Alberto Ascherio Departments of *Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA. nmorozov@hsph.harvard.edu; mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu; marji.mccullough@cancer.org; hpklg@channing.harvard.edu; aascheri@hsph.harvard.edu; kgorham@hsph.harvard.edu; mthun@cancer.org; jcalle@cancer.org; ethacker@post.harvard.edu;
BACKGROUND:
Several dietary factors have been associated with risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in case-control studies, but no prospective studies have investigated diet and ALS.
METHODS:
We prospectively assessed the association of selected foods and beverages with ALS mortality among participants of the Cancer Prevention Study II, a cohort of over 1 million men and women enrolled in 1982.
Habitual diet was assessed with a 44-item food frequency questionnaire.
Participant follow-up was conducted from 1989 through 2002 for ALS mortality.
RESULTS:
During the follow-up period, 862 cohort participants died of ALS.
The strongest finding was an inverse association between chicken consumption and risk of ALS (P for trend = 0.0006).
We also observed an increased risk of ALS among study participants with a high consumption of brown rice/whole wheat/barley (P for trend = 0.006) and decaffeinated coffee (P for trend = 0.01), and a decreased risk of ALS for high consumption of tea (P for trend = 0.02)and French fries (P for trend = 0.02); however, none of these latter associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons.
CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, these results do not provide convincing evidence that the investigated food items are related to ALS mortality.
The association observed between chicken consumption and ALS mortality should be assessed in other studies.
PMID: 18300717 tobacco, alcohol drinks, and aspartame all expose people to methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid: Rich Murray 2008.09.20 formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series, Sharon E Jacob-Soo, Sarah A Stechschulte, UCSD, Dermatitis 2008 May: Rich Murray 2008.07.18
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 18, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553
___________________________________________________
Dermatitis. 2008 May-Jun; 19(3): E10-1. Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines: a possible connection.
Jacob SE, Stechschulte S. Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener that has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.
Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into
formaldehyde in various tissues.
We present the first case series of aspartame-associated migraines related to clinically relevant positive reactions to formaldehyde on patch testing. PMID: 18627677 formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele, G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging 2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533
"For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame (Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological degradation.
One of aspartame's metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester, is
converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes.
Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been seen to improve once aspartame is avoided.
Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week of avoiding diet soda."
Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame,
vitamins, shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes, Sharon E Jacob, MD, Tace Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals 2007 Jan.: eyelid contact dermatitis, AM Hill, DV Belsito, 2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532
Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology)
University of California, San Diego 200 W. Arbor Drive #8420, San
Diego, CA 92103-8420
Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317 sjacob@contactderm.net;
Dermatitis. 2008 Jan-Feb;19(1):9-15.
Systemic contact dermatitis.
Jacob SE, Zapolanski T. tamar.zapolanski@gmail.com;
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Systemic exposure to allergens resulting in a cutaneous eruption is known as systemic contact dermatitis (SCD).
Once sensitization occurs, varying exposures to antigens via multiple routes (including transepidermal routes, intravenous or intramuscular routes, inhalation, and ingestion) can result in systemic flare.
This article highlights the different categories of common
contactants, metals, medications, and plants, exposure to which leads to SCD.
A comprehensive approach that takes into account all possible routes of exposure is essential in diagnosing SCD and in helping patients successfully avoid their allergens. PMID: 18346390
"We present a case of a medical student who presented with
erythematous eczematoid plaques on her trunk and legs and fine
vesiculation of her scalp, 3 weeks after starting anatomy class.
Of note, she routinely washed her face and arms after leaving the
anatomy lab, but remained in her scrubs for the rest of the day.
Formaldehyde and Quaternium-15 positive reactions in the same patient."
"Our patient underscores the importance of appropriate patch testing and education.
Once we identified the allergy to formaldehyde and quaternium-15, we provided patient education materials regarding the common and not-so-common locations of these chemicals and cross-reactors.
We also gave the patient information on avoidance and safe
alternatives (see Table 5).
Fortunately, with technical advances, this student completed the
anatomy section via electronic learning tools.
By avoiding formaldehyde, including anatomy lab, FRP in her shampoo and cosmetics, and aspartame in her diet, this patient dramatically improved.
As with all contact dermatitides, the mainstay of treatment for
allergic contact dermatitis is avoidance."
http://www.skinandaging.com/article/5158 Skin & Aging Journal
ISSN: 1096-0120 - Volume 13 - Issue 12_2005 - December 2005 - Pages: 22 - 27
Allergen Focus:
Focus on T.R.U.E. Test Allergens #21, 13 and 18:
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
-- By Sharon E. Jacob, M.D., Tace Steele, B.A., [now MD] and Georgette Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H.
http://www.eczemacenter.org/eczema_center/meetfacultystaff.htm
[ photo ]
The Eczema Center
Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego
8010 Frost Street, Suite 602, San Diego, CA 92123
or call... (858) 966-6774
Sharon E. Jacob , MD
Dr. Sharon E. Jacob is Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine (Dermatology) at the University of California, School of Medicine and Rady Children's Hospital.
She earned her medical degree from the Temple University, and
completed dermatology training at the University of Miami and advanced contact dermatitis training at New York University (NYU). She has been board certified in dermatology.
Dr. Jacob's clinical interests include atopic and contact dermatitis and education.
She is considered a national expert on chemical sensitivities in the skin and has published more than 45 journal articles, book chapters and abstracts on this topic.
In 2005, Dr Jacob was the first to present contact dermatitis data on U.S. pediatric patients to the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS).
She has received an excellence in teaching award from the University of Miami Dermatology and the Clinical Research Award from the ACDS.
She is an active reviewer for the following medical publications
including Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology, Dermatitis, and the Archives of Dermatology. Dr. Jacob also serves on the medical board of the Inflammatory Skin Disease Institute and the Skin and Aging Journal.
Dr. Jacob enjoys taking care of children and their families and is an advocate for children's dermatologic health.
http://www.eczemacenter.org/eczema_center/index.htm
Atopic dermatitis (AD) -- better known as eczema -- is the most common chronic skin disorder seen in infants and children.
In fact, the prevalence of this condition has risen dramatically
during the last three decades.
Currently, 15% to 20% of children in the United States are expected to experience this condition sometime during their lifetime, compared to 7% around 1960.
The negative impact of eczema is profound and insidious.
It affects both the patient who suffers from it and that patient's family members, and it does so on two important levels -- physical and emotional.
Physical:
Inflamed, itchy rashes can involve any and all of the skin surfaces and are frequently complicated by skin breakdown and bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
It is linked to the development of life-long allergic conditions,
including asthma, food allergies, and rhinitis.
Any level of AD is extremely uncomfortable and, at times, painful.
Individuals with moderate to severe disease report that eczema hugely disturbs their sleep and impacts performance of daily activities, including adverse effects on school, sports
activities, work, and peer relationships.
In studies, individuals with eczema reported more negative impact on quality of life than those with insulin-dependent diabetes!
Emotional:
Patients and their families experience considerable emotional
distress, anxiety, and embarrassment because of people's response to this illness.
In fact, the emotional scarring on both patient and family members may outlast eczema's physical effects.
Parents especially suffer because it is difficult for children
experiencing this condition to understand that their parents cannot make the torment go away.
The stress of caring for these children is even greater than parents caring for a child with insulin-dependent diabetes.
Patients experience considerable discrimination and social isolation because of this illness.
People often stare, shiver with disgust or step back in fear from
those who have this condition.
The end result for patients: A life-time of struggle with their sense of worth and self esteem.
http://aad2008.omnibooksonline.com/data/papers/CRS-113-F.pdf lecture with photos
___________________________________________________
Similar levels of daily formaldehyde and formic acid, causes of birth defects, come from cigarettes, aspartame, and dark wines and liquors -- folic acid protects most people: Rich Murray 2008.07.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1552
http://www.divine.ca/en/health-and-wellness/articles/c_16_i_3295/5-reasons-to-quit-smoking-1.html
"A smoker who goes through one pack a day will smoke 7,300 cigarettes a year, inhaling the equivalent of nearly 1 gram of formaldehyde
(yikes!)."
That's about 2.5 mg daily formaldehyde intake for 20 cigarettes, over
the 2 mg USA FDA alarm level for formaldehyde in average 2 liters
daily drinking water, while a single 12 oz can of diet soda also
results in about 2 mg formaldehyde toxic products in the body,
including formic acid, a notorious cause of birth defects.
Dark wines and liquors usually supply even more methanol, which the body always turns into formaldehyde and formic acid -- the major cause of "morning after" hangovers.
High levels of folic acid, a safe, affordable vitamin in fruits and vegetables, largely prevents formaldehyde and formic acid toxicity in most people.
It is certain that high levels of aspartame use, above 2 liters daily for months and years, must lead to chronic
formaldehyde-formic acid toxicity.
Fully 11 % of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame in 2 liters diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol). The methanol is immediately released into the body after drinking .
Within hours, the liver turns much of the methanol into formaldehyde, and then much of that into formic acid, both of which in time are partially eliminated as carbon dioxide and water.
However, about 30 % of the methanol remains in the body as cumulative durable toxic metabolites of formaldehyde and formic acid -- 37 mg daily, a gram every month, accumulating in and affecting every tissue.
If only 10 % of the methanol is retained daily as formaldehyde, that would give 12 mg daily formaldehyde accumulation -- about 60 times more than the 0.2 mg from 10 % retention of the 2 mg EPA daily limit for formaldehyde in drinking water.
Bear in mind that the EPA limit for formaldehyde in drinking water is 1 ppm, or 2 mg daily for a typical daily consumption of 2 liters of water.
Formaldehyde and formic acid in FEMA trailers and other sources
(aspartame, dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508
The FEMA trailers give about the same amount of formaldehyde and
formic acid daily as from a quart of dark wine or liquor, or two
quarts (6 12-oz cans) of aspartame diet soda, from their over 1 tenth gram methanol impurity (one part in 10,000), which the body quickly makes into formaldehyde and then formic acid -- enough to be the major cause of "morning after" alcohol hangovers.
Methanol and formaldehyde and formic acid also result from many fruits and vegetables, tobacco and wood smoke, heater and vehicle exhaust, household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, and new cars, drapes,carpets, furniture, particleboard, mobile homes, buildings, leather... so all these sources add up and interact with many other toxic chemicals.
two aspartame toxicity research studies by Resia Pretorius,
U. Pretoria, South Africa, debate with JD Fernstrom:
Murray 2008.04.04
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.htm
Friday, April 4, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1536
methanol impurity in alcohol drinks [ and aspartame ] is turned into neurotoxic formic acid, prevented by folic acid, re Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, BM Kapur, DC Lehotay, PL Carlen at U. Toronto, Alc Clin Exp Res 2007 Dec. plain text: detailed biochemistry, CL Nie et al. 2007.07.18: Murray 2008.02.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.htm
Sunday, February 24, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1524
opportunities re BA Magnuson, GA Burdock et al., Aspartame Safety
Evaluation 2007 Sept., Critical Reviews in Toxicology:
Rich Murray 2008.07.11
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 11, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1550
___________________________________________________
"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and positively act upon evidence about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."
Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@comcast.net
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 135 members, 1,564 posts in a public archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,137 members, 22,958 posts in a public archive
___________________________________________________
