Comments on: Benzene Soda http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html Science Blog from Freelance Science Writer David Bradley Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-5#comment-635152 David Bradley Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:45:45 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-635152 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">@briannepitt Almost right, but 10,000 sodas with vitamin C/benzoate for real carcinogenicity risk - http://bit.ly/benzoate</span></span> @briannepitt Almost right, but 10,000 sodas with vitamin C/benzoate for real carcinogenicity risk – http://bit.ly/benzoate

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-5#comment-528453 David Bradley Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:35:03 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-528453 Well Jonathan, I'm sure my response to another reader did not come up to your exacting standards. I thought I answered her quite well, to be honest. Anyway, I'm running a blog here, not a homework help service. It's not a straightforward matter to test for benzene, it's an organic molecule, not a simple metal ion, for instance, you need specialist equipment. If there's a local lab that is interested in helping out students then you may have some success in persuading them to do the tests for you, but how would that be *your* science fair project? Well Jonathan, I’m sure my response to another reader did not come up to your exacting standards. I thought I answered her quite well, to be honest. Anyway, I’m running a blog here, not a homework help service. It’s not a straightforward matter to test for benzene, it’s an organic molecule, not a simple metal ion, for instance, you need specialist equipment. If there’s a local lab that is interested in helping out students then you may have some success in persuading them to do the tests for you, but how would that be *your* science fair project?

]]> By: Jonathan Attoe http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-4#comment-528444 Jonathan Attoe Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:16:32 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-528444 I'm hoping for a better answer than the one you gave Amanda in November 2006. I am wanting to do a science fair project on the levels of benzene in sodas exposed to heat which contain acsorbic acid and sodium benzoate. My school has said if I can find a way to test for benzene, they will approve it. Please let me know of ways that I can test it myself, or places that I can send samples to for testing. I’m hoping for a better answer than the one you gave Amanda in November 2006. I am wanting to do a science fair project on the levels of benzene in sodas exposed to heat which contain acsorbic acid and sodium benzoate. My school has said if I can find a way to test for benzene, they will approve it. Please let me know of ways that I can test it myself, or places that I can send samples to for testing.

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-4#comment-427609 David Bradley Tue, 13 May 2008 07:45:29 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-427609 Hah! There has been an update to this tale in which US researchers have apparently found <a href="http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=84940-benzene-soft-drinks-fda" rel="nofollow">less benzene in soft drinks</a>. db Hah! There has been an update to this tale in which US researchers have apparently found less benzene in soft drinks.

db

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-4#comment-427607 David Bradley Tue, 13 May 2008 07:38:28 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-427607 It's odd, this post got a lot of interest at the time of writing (February 2006) but has suddenly received renewed interest in May 2008, having been read more than 3200 times already (it's May 13 right now). As far as I am aware there have been no significant developments on this, but am willing to stand corrected if any new research has come to light that I have overlooked. If you know of any, feel free to comment and bring us up to date. Thanks db It’s odd, this post got a lot of interest at the time of writing (February 2006) but has suddenly received renewed interest in May 2008, having been read more than 3200 times already (it’s May 13 right now). As far as I am aware there have been no significant developments on this, but am willing to stand corrected if any new research has come to light that I have overlooked. If you know of any, feel free to comment and bring us up to date.

Thanks

db

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-4#comment-198790 David Bradley Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:02:24 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-198790 Mike Forget formulations. Have you tried baby yoga for colic? db Mike

Forget formulations. Have you tried baby yoga for colic?

db

]]> By: mike http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-4#comment-198567 mike Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:02:52 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-198567 Dear Sciencebase or other guys/gals- Have a newborn with bad colic. Do not wish to expose to Benzene via Mylicon Drops. Researching issue of Citric acid vs Ascorbic acid as converting agent. Your comments re Citric not a converter are of great relevence to me as the Baby product uses Citric, not Ascorbic. Science base was to follow up on issue. Would you please update STAT! Anybody else? I prerfer her to get her benzene via our great Houston airand not in the Formula! Adopted baby .Breast feeding not possible so bottle colic has arrived. Seriously any help stat would be great. These drops work so hopefully there has been some reseach establishing a distinction in Citric v Ascorbic. HELP. Need sleep. Thanks Dear Sciencebase or other guys/gals-

Have a newborn with bad colic. Do not wish to expose to Benzene via Mylicon Drops. Researching issue of Citric acid vs Ascorbic acid as converting agent. Your comments re Citric not a converter are of great relevence to me as the Baby product uses Citric, not Ascorbic.

Science base was to follow up on issue. Would you please update STAT! Anybody else? I prerfer her to get her benzene via our great Houston airand not in the Formula! Adopted baby .Breast feeding not possible so bottle colic has arrived. Seriously any help stat would be great. These drops work so hopefully there has been some reseach establishing a distinction in Citric v Ascorbic. HELP. Need sleep. Thanks

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-3#comment-122719 David Bradley Mon, 09 Jul 2007 07:31:59 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-122719 Anonymous, I have absolutely no idea what point you are trying to make. Your original reference to chocolate and cocaine is bizarre, no one was under the illusion that cocoa and coca are the same! I removed your offensive reference to the causes of blindness. But, I would like to understand what pertinence this item has to the truly worrying trend for drinking gallons of carbonated acidic beverages. I'm not at all worried about trace amounts of benzene in these drinks, it is the relatively vast quantities of sugar, the phosphoric or carbonic acid content and the effect long-term consumption could have on teeth, obesity, and bone density that concerns me. Anonymous, I have absolutely no idea what point you are trying to make. Your original reference to chocolate and cocaine is bizarre, no one was under the illusion that cocoa and coca are the same! I removed your offensive reference to the causes of blindness. But, I would like to understand what pertinence this item has to the truly worrying trend for drinking gallons of carbonated acidic beverages. I’m not at all worried about trace amounts of benzene in these drinks, it is the relatively vast quantities of sugar, the phosphoric or carbonic acid content and the effect long-term consumption could have on teeth, obesity, and bone density that concerns me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-3#comment-122635 Anonymous Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:57:05 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-122635 Remember when mom said don't eat dirt - the latest on that was it develops a stronger immune system so it is ok, no harm in eating dirt. Coffee will stunt growth, not so said scientists. Eating or drinking chocolate is as addictive as cocaine... Remember when mom said don’t eat dirt – the latest on that was it develops a stronger immune system so it is ok, no harm in eating dirt. Coffee will stunt growth, not so said scientists. Eating or drinking chocolate is as addictive as cocaine…

]]> By: sciencebase http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/benzene-soda.html/comment-page-3#comment-44881 sciencebase Thu, 16 Nov 2006 07:40:16 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/?p=422#comment-44881 Well, it's not the testing for it that would be too dangerous. If you have a sample containing benzene, then it represents an intrinsic risk factor regardless of whether you're testing it or not, but that risk depends on actual dose. I'd recommend finding an alternative science fair project: http://www.sciencebase.com/scince_fair_projects_online.html Of course, you must consider dose and possible routes of exposure when discussing any sample as to whether it's dangerous or not. Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon occurring naturally in crude oil and many other substances and is present in petrol (gas) because of this and because it is formed during oil refining. The quantities in soda and other fizzy drinks mentioned in this post are tiny compared to the levels in petrol. As such, you're going to struggle to do a science fair project to determine benzene in soda, without proper analytical lab equipment. On the other hand, you would be wise not to take a sample of petroleum into class to test even though the levels of benzene might be more accessible. Regardless of the long-term risks of cancer from exposure to benzene, it smells strongly, is poisonous, and flammable. Steer clear. Well, it’s not the testing for it that would be too dangerous. If you have a sample containing benzene, then it represents an intrinsic risk factor regardless of whether you’re testing it or not, but that risk depends on actual dose.

I’d recommend finding an alternative science fair project: http://www.sciencebase.com/scince_fair_projects_online.html

Of course, you must consider dose and possible routes of exposure when discussing any sample as to whether it’s dangerous or not. Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon occurring naturally in crude oil and many other substances and is present in petrol (gas) because of this and because it is formed during oil refining. The quantities in soda and other fizzy drinks mentioned in this post are tiny compared to the levels in petrol.

As such, you’re going to struggle to do a science fair project to determine benzene in soda, without proper analytical lab equipment. On the other hand, you would be wise not to take a sample of petroleum into class to test even though the levels of benzene might be more accessible. Regardless of the long-term risks of cancer from exposure to benzene, it smells strongly, is poisonous, and flammable. Steer clear.

]]>