| High Dioxin Levels Alarm Scientists Biggest sources are meat and dairy products Scientists are continuing to find very high levels of dioxins in food, up to 22 times the recommended maximum level established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Levels of the highly toxic chemicals remain high despite efforts to reduce their presence in the environment, according to a news service story from ABC News. The findings were based on a study by scientists at the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston. Dioxins, a family of chemicals that are mostly a byproduct of industrial processes, can cause various cancers. While adults are getting 22 times the maximum exposure suggested, nursing infants are getting from 35 to 65 times the established level. Experts say this means that work to clean up the environment has to continue. Scientists say the biggest sources of dioxins are meat and dairy products. The best way to avoid the chemicals is to eat more fruits and vegetables because dioxins concentrate in animal fat. Blood samples from vegans, who eat no animal products, show they have much lower levels of dioxins in their bodies than the average person, according to the article. For those who do eat meat, broiling food is the best way to reduce the level of the toxins. To find out why some scientists call dioxins the Darth Vader of chemicals, read this article from the Nutrition Action Healthletter. Also, check out this information from the International Food Information Council. |
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