|
An essential oil called methyleugenol that is found in many foods
and spices has been connected to causing cancer of the liver, stomach
and kidney in mice and rats. Some of the common foods this spice
can be found in include candy, cookies, bubblegum, pumpkin pie,
puddings, ice cream, apple butter, chutney, anise biscotti, French
toast, ketchup, nutmeg and gingerbread.
Although this study hasn’t been proven to be cancerous in
humans, it has been listed by the toxicology program as a "reasonably"
potential human carcinogen. Further studies have shown that in 98
percent of 206 adults tested for methyleugenol from 1994 to 1998
revealed definite traces of the chemical in their blood.
Participants of a study, consisting of nine volunteers, were asked
to fast overnight and eat 12 gingersnaps that had high levels of
methyleugenol. Blood samples showed that the concentration of methyleugenol
peaked at 53.9 pg/g 15 minutes after the volunteers ate the cookies
and returned nearly to the fasting concentration within two hours.
Scientists said the risk of getting cancer from ingesting methyleugenol
remains inconclusive, however it was shown that people were also
exposed to it through inhalation and use of products such as perfumes,
toiletries, sunscreens and cigarettes.
Science
News March 22, 2004
| 