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Taffer
11th May 2006, 02:23 AM
I've recently recieved this email, and I'm wondering if anyone has any more information about it. I'm unable to provide a link, as I'm not sure where this originates.

Cancer News from Johns Hopkins:

1--No plastic containers in micro.
2--No water bottles in freezer.
3--No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters.

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center. Dioxin chemicals 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, Dr. 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 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, Corning Ware 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 Saran wrap 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.

Something seems a bit off, to me, but I could be totally wrong. Why would freezing plastic release toxins?

MaxHardcore
11th May 2006, 02:31 AM
not true

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cookplastic.asp

Taffer
11th May 2006, 03:09 AM
Perfect. I figured as much, and Google failed to provide me with an answer (perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough). Thanks. :)

Gravy
11th May 2006, 03:20 AM
I've recently recieved this email, and I'm wondering if anyone has any more information about it. I'm unable to provide a link, as I'm not sure where this originates.
Something seems a bit off, to me, but I could be totally wrong. Why would freezing plastic release toxins?
This is an unscientific observation, but it's probably a good idea to distrust any source that claims a material relaeses a carcinogen when heated or frozen, but not at room temperature.

Damn Corning glass lobby.

bjb
11th May 2006, 10:16 AM
I can believe heat would release or crease a carcinogen, but not cold. Acrylamide is a carcinogen that can be created by cooking certain foods:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020824/bob9.asp

I think it is strange that someone would create a fake email about health problems from plastic wrap when an email about acrylmide would be far more difficult to debunk.

cbish
11th May 2006, 10:31 AM
This is an internet hoax that's been floating around for some time. I don't even think the people from John Hopkins as cited even exist.

Spidey13
11th May 2006, 10:43 AM
Dammit, Taffer. Don't you read my threads?
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=54556 :D

Anyway, here are two links to Johns Hopkins debunking this.
http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_dioxins.html
http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_plastics.html

NeilC
11th May 2006, 10:49 AM
http://www.plasticsmythbuster.org/dioxins.asp?src=goog

tsg
11th May 2006, 10:49 AM
Rule #1: Anything forwarded more than twice through email is fake.

bluess
11th May 2006, 12:54 PM
Especially if its from idiot office-mate.

Who has stopped forwarding me things now that I send out snopes links to everyone she originally emailed.

tsg
11th May 2006, 12:56 PM
Especially if its from idiot office-mate.

Who has stopped forwarding me things now that I send out snopes links to everyone she originally emailed.

Amazing how well that works. Of course the people I've done it to haven't stopped forwarding the things, they just don't forward them to me.

Which is fine with me.

patnray
11th May 2006, 02:11 PM
Who has stopped forwarding me things now that I send out snopes links to everyone she originally emailed.
Yep. Works for me too. I send it just to the sender the first time I get such drivel from a person, but reply to everyone the second time the same person forwards junk to me. No one has ever done it to me a third time...

Taffer
11th May 2006, 09:51 PM
Dammit, Taffer. Don't you read my threads?
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=54556 :D

Nope, I never read your threads. They are pointless and a waste of time. You never have anything worthwhile to say. :D :p :D

(Opps, sorry. Should have checked first)

Anyway, here are two links to Johns Hopkins debunking this.
http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_dioxins.html
http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_plastics.html

Thanks, I'll take a look at them. Also thanks to all the others who've supplied me with links. I linked the sender of this email to snopes, and basically got the reply "yeah, ok, but I still won't use plastics". :rolleyes: Oh well.

Verde
11th May 2006, 11:39 PM
Yep. Works for me too. I send it just to the sender the first time I get such drivel from a person, but reply to everyone the second time the same person forwards junk to me. No one has ever done it to me a third time...

I'm glad that very few of these folks don't know what the 'bcc:' field is for. Gives me an opportunity to spread what appears to be quite directed comments.

Trying not to derail here, and getting back to the OP; I have done quite a bit of work at a couple of the Corning plants, and can assert that their products release just as much dioxin as the typical plastic container.

[ETA: None!]

Taffer
12th May 2006, 03:32 AM
Ha! Take that all you plastic wrap...alarmist...people...

Spidey13
12th May 2006, 09:31 PM
Nope, I never read your threads. They are pointless and a waste of time. You never have anything worthwhile to say. :D :p :D
But I'm so darn cute.

Taffer
12th May 2006, 10:42 PM
But I'm so darn cute.

Kawaii♥!