So, I found a story about the dangers of toxins in breast milk and a commenter replied with this link
Rocket fuel in breast milk (lettuce, and drinking water too)
First, I just want to clarify something. While I’m appreciative of the link, it’s very misleading. It’s not rocket fuel, but a chemical that happens to be used in rocket fuel. You can’t grab a lactating woman, squeeze her breast, and power the space shuttle with the results.
However, that aside, I read the article because I’m concerned with articles such as these. And reading it got my blood pressure up since it was not only a false alarm type article, but it had a politician screaming how we need to take immediate action before all the children DIE DIE DIE!!!!!!!!!
So, the article and all it’s assinity
A toxic component of rocket fuel has been found in breast milk of women in 18 states and store-bought milk from various locations around the country.
The chemical, perchlorate, can impede adult metabolism and cause retardation in fetuses, among other things. It leaches into groundwater from various military facilities.
What makes this funny is the line only a few paragraphs down
Perchlorate occurs naturally and is also a primary ingredient in solid rocket fuel, munitions and fireworks.
So, it occurs naturally, yet it’s pushed into groundwater by the military? And the military makes fireworks? Or did the author try some verbal slight of hand to try to pin the blame on those evil, baby killers? The URL is LiveScience.com and I’ve never read the site so I don’t know if their one of those agenda driven, pseudo-science sites or not. Based on one article, the jury is still out for me.
So, it talks about how perchlorate has been found in several places. It then highlights one of my favorite nut jobs in the senate, Dianne Feinstein
"We've got to come to grips with the perchlorate situation quickly,'' said California Senator Dianne Feinstein in a statement. "And EPA has to move quickly to set a national drinking water standard that protects the health and safety of all Americans.''
Got that? WE’RE ALL GOING TO FRICKIN’ DIE UNLESS WE LET THE GOVERNMENT PROTECT US!!!!! I mean, this is a national crisis right? One report and we need Uncle Sam to step in and ensure our water is purer than Mother Mary’s tears! Because this is a big crisis, right?
The report should not raise undue alarm, said Ed Urbansky, a former Environmental Protection Agency chemist who was not involved in the latest study.
"It's very difficult to determine what the findings might be other than to know it might be in so many milk samples,'' Urbansky said.
And
An overview study of perchlorate released in January by the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC) tried to assess the risk, but scientists continue to argue about how much of the chemical is too much.
From the linked article
A follow-up study in 2004 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found traces of perchlorate in bottled water at retail stores, in milk across the country, and in lettuce tested in several states. FDA officials said there is no cause for alarm, and that further study was needed to determine just how toxic the chemical is.
"The scope of the data is too limited" for any conclusions to be drawn, according to an FDA statement, which advised: "Until more is known about the health effects of perchlorate and its occurrence in foods, FDA continues to recommend that consumers eat a balanced diet."
….
An new study of perchlorate risk, just released by the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC) on Monday, suggests doses up to 20 times higher may be acceptable.
And yet we have Feinkenstien ‘bout ready to bust a neck-bolt over this? I agree that companies or government agencies should not be allowed to pollute our drinking water supply with dangerous chemicals. I agree that it is in our best interest to keep our water as contaminate free as possible, taking into consideration the costs of removing said contaminates versus actual, human benefits. But to kick in a proposal about a chemical that could become 20 times more concentrated and still not harm humans is a complete waste of taxpayers money and time.
I realize that politicians have to ‘sell themselves’ to their constituents. They have to look like they’re doing enough to justify both their rather large salaries as well as future employment. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not picking on Finklestein because she’s got a D by her name– Pork stupidity is just as bad on the R side of the aisle. But if either Senator Bill Nelson or Senator Mel Martinez think that those types of scare tactics endear themselves to my vote, they’re sorely mistaken.
So, Dianne, how about a little less hysterics and a little more research before we crank out even more bureaucratic horse shit to add to the overwhelming supply us little folk already have to deal with.
If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to throw caution to the wind and give my 3 year some Dasani.
rolled out on
Tuesday, September 13, 2005 3:22 PM