New studies have found that the most popular drinks in America contain alarming levels of toxic heavy metals that can cause all sorts of problems within the human body. And, as usual, the regulatory agencies aren’t doing anything about it and they’re actually saying that it isn’t a big deal.

  • Shrek
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    310 months ago

    The poison is in the dose

  • @Quereller@lemmy.one
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    310 months ago

    Here is the link to the study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157523001047

    Here the Abstract: Elevated levels of toxic metals and essential elements in commonly consumed soft beverages are of public and regulatory agencies’ concern, and thus frequent monitoring of these elements is critically important. The study determined 25 elements in 60 soft beverages: single fruit juice, mixed fruit juice, plant-based milk, artificial/soda, and tea purchased in New Orleans, Louisiana, and commercially availabe in the United States. Elemental concentrations were determined using ICP-MS. The 95th percentile concentration ranges of the elements were: 0.06–5 µg/kg (Tl, Sb, Th, Pb, Cd, Co); 5–15 µg/kg (As, U, Se); 20–40 µg/kg (Mo, Li, Cr); 200–450 µg/kg (Ni, Ba, Cu); 1500–2000 µg/kg (Al, B); 4000–6000 µg/kg (Fe, Sr, Zn, Mn); and 125–2000 mg/kg (Mg, Na, Ca, K). Seven of the 25 elements—Ni, Mn, B, Cd, Sr, As, and Se—exceeded the drinking water standards in 38.3%, 36.7%, 16.7%, 5%, 5%, 3.3%, and 1.6% of the beverage samples, respectively. Aluminum and Zn exceeded the secondary non-enforceable drinking water standards in 40% and 6.7% of the samples, respectively. Mixed fruit juices and plant-based milk frequently contained elevated concentrations of most of the elements. While toxicity is unlikely unless individuals consume a large volume, moderating consumption of these beverages is required, especially to protect infants and young children. Regular monitoring of these chemicals in beverages is required for food safety and to provide sound nutritional advice.

  • @Quereller@lemmy.one
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    10 months ago

    Some of these 9 elements (with higher conc. than allowed in drinking water) definitely have a recommended daily intake dose (food supplement).

    Edit: the more I read the paper the less alarming I find the found values.

    • Thing about heavy metals is the accumulation aspect. Any toxic material centers around the dose taken. But when the material is very difficult for the body to remove, the negative impacts become a bigger and bigger issue. Unknowing intake of these toxins is the problem as this can lead to life altering disorders.

        • Poison’s and toxins are somewhat different, but both have a range of severity, meaning both are dose dependent. Toxins, both exotoxins and endotoxins, are prodcued by living organisms while poisons are more broad and include being both natural and synthetic. A toxin is a poison but a poison isn’t always a toxin. Both cause harm to varying degrees nonetheless, which comes down to a handful of factors like body mass, tolerance, and dose.