http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1227
New Mexico EIB should use its authority to ban aspartame, a methanol
(formaldehyde) source, Gail Chasey Beam, NM CPAC:
California, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey set stronger limits than the EPA,
468-page 1999 EPA formaldehyde profile, Murray 2005.10.02

From: "Mother Media" <leland@...>
To: <rmforall@...>
Subject: NM House Consumer Chair Affirms EIB Authority Re Aspartame
Date: Sunday, October 02, 2005 12:44 PM

Mother Media is excited to present this letter affirming the EIB's
regulatory authority with respect to aspartame
from the Chairwoman of the New Mexico House
Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, Representative Gail Beam.

It's importance will be demonstrated this Tuesday at the October 4th,
9:30 AM hearing at the NM State Records & Archives/Library Bldg.,
1205 Camino Carlos Rey, Room 2027.
All citizens, and especially media representatives, are cordially invited
and encouraged to come.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Gay Dillingham, Chair NM Environmental Improvement Board
Clifford Stroud, Vice Chair
Members: Harold Tso, Dolores Herrera, Greg Green, Soren Peters,
and Ken Marsh

Dear Madame Chair and Members of the EIB:

I understand that the EIB will be considering proposed rule changes and
additions to the NMAC very soon.

I hope that you will exercise the power vested in you without regard to
threats of future federal pre-emption.

In the past few years, the New Mexico Legislature has heard some disturbing
testimony regarding the potential dangers of Aspartame.

I also understand that corporate attorneys affiliated with the world's
largest manufacturer of Aspartame are the primary individuals objecting to your
further consideration.

It has been brought to my attention that your statutory powers to consider
these matters are explicitly set forth in the
New Mexico Food Act (25-2-1 through 25-2-19).

In addition, Section 74-1-2 of the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Act,
gives you even broader powers to promulgate rules
"...in order to ensure an environment that in the greatest possible measure
will confer optimum health, safety, comfort and economic and social
well-being on its inhabitants;
(and) will protect this generation as well as those yet unborn
from health threats posed by the environment..."

Section 74-1-8A (1) created the EIB, stating,
"The Board is responsible for environmental management and consumer
protection.

In that respect the Board shall promulgate rules and standards in the
following areas: (1) food protection."

As legislators, we are counting on you to exercise your statutory powers in
order to fulfill the purpose for which EIB was created.

We are also counting on your expertise.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely, Gail Chasey Beam
Chair, House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee
=======================================================

Leland Lehrman leland@... 505.982.3609
163 Old Lamy Trail Lamy, NM 87540
***************************************************************

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@... 505-501-2298
1943 Otowi Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 149 members, 1,229 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RoomForAll.blogspot.com http://AspartameNM.blogspot.com


Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide similar levels of
methanol, above 100 mg daily, for long-term heavy users. Methanol is
inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde, and thence largely into formic
acid. It is the major cause of the dreaded symtoms of "next morning"
hangover.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1108
faults in 1999 July EPA 468-page formaldehyde profile:
Elzbieta Skrzydlewska PhD, Assc. Prof., Medical U. of Bialystok, Poland,
abstracts -- ethanol, methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid, acetaldehyde,
lipid peroxidation, green tea, aging: Murray 2004.08.08 2005.07.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/835
ATSDR: EPA limit 1 ppm formaldehyde in drinking water July 1999:
Murray 2002.05.30 rmforall


Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame in 2 L diet soda,
almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol). If 30% of
the methanol is turned into formaldehyde, the amount of formaldehyde, 37 mg,
is 18.5 times the USA EPA limit for daily formaldehyde in drinking water,
2.0 mg in 2 L average daily drinking water, and, 185 times the New Jersey limit,
615 times the California and Maine limits, 1850 times the Maryland limit.

The 1999 July EPA 468-page formaldehyde profile admits that three states
substantially exceed the federal EPA limit:

Environmental Protection Agency 2.00 mg in 2 L daily drinking water
California and Maine----------- 0.06 mg
Maryland----------------------- 0.02 mg
New Jersey--------------------- 0.20 mg

However, famous Americans who drink a dozen cans daily of diet sodas
for years include John Edwards, vice-presidential candidate, Joe
Trippi, Howard Dean's campaign manager, and Harvey Weinstein,
movie producer.

Both President George W. Bush and Governer Bill Richardson are users.

Adequate levels of folic acid help most people handle low-level methanol
(formaldehyde) toxicity. Folic acid is supplied by fruits and vegetables.
But, aspirin and Tylenol and many other common drugs
interfere with folic acid:

Acetaminophen-containing Medications
Anticonvulsants
Aspirin
Birth Control Medications
Cholesterol-lowering Medications
Cimetidine
Ibuprofen
Metformin
Pentobarbital
Phenobarbital
Sulfasalazine
Tetracycline

http://www.daytondailynews.com/health/altmed/shared/health/alt_medicine/
ConsSupplements/Interactions/VitaminB9FolicAcidcs.html


http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/ 931 members, 18,831 posts
Aspartame Victims Support Group Edward Bryant Holman, Chief Moderator
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/ bryanth@...

http://www.wnho.net/links-aspartame.htm many fine aspartame sites

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1223
complete info on NM EIB aspartame ban meeting, Oct. 4, Santa Fe,
Leland Lehrman, www.MotherMedia.org: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1217
battle to ban aspartame heats up in New Mexico Environmental Improvement
Board, 9 AM Tuesday, October 4: Fox: Murray 2005.09.23

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1220
legal and factual basis for NM EIB to ban aspartame (methanol,
formaldehyde), final paragraph from James S. Turner, Esq, letters from
Kenneth P. Stoller MD (Pediatrics), C. Grant La Farge, MD (Pediatric
Cardiology), Karen Ulehla, MSLS, Medical Librarian: Murray 2005.09.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1218
James S. Turner, Esq. letter on improper approval of aspartame by FDA in
1981, to New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board 2005.09.20,
plain text: Murray 2005.09.24

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1215
Edward M. Johnson, J.D. Attorney, Texas, supports legality and necessity of
Fox petition for New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board
to ban aspartame: Fox: Murray 2005.09.15


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1225
Aspartame -- the shocking story, Pat Thomas, The Ecologist, 2005 Sept.,
p. 35-51, full text: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/message/18840
need for clarification on sources used by Pat Thomas: Guilford 2005.10.02
[ I agree on "our side" maintaining high standards of evidence at every
point. ]


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1224
Aspartame disease: an FDA-approved epidemic, H. J. Roberts, MD 2004:
Murray 2005.09.30


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1106
hangover research relevant to toxicity of 11% methanol in aspartame
(formaldehyde, formic acid): Calder I (full text): Jones AW: Murray
2004.08.05 2005.09.28

Since no adaquate data has ever been published on the exact disposition of
toxic metabolites in specific tissues in humans of the 11% methanol
component of aspartame, the many studies on morning-after hangover from the
methanol impurity in alcohol drinks are the main available resource to date.

Jones AW (1987) found next-morning hangover from red wine with
100 to 150 mg methanol
(9.5% w/v ethanol, 100 mg/l methanol, 0.01%, one part in ten thousand).

Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame in 2 L diet soda,
almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol) -- the same
amount that produces hangover from red wine.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1226
USA National Institutes of Health National Toxicology Program aids eminent
Ramazzini Foundation, Bologna, Italy, in more results on cancers in rats
from lifetime low levels of aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde), Felicity
Lawrence, www.guardian.co.uk: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1186
aspartame induces lymphomas and leukaemias in rats, full plain text,
M Soffritti, F Belpoggi, DD Esposti, L Lambertini: Ramazzini Foundation
study 2005.07.14: main results agree with their previous methanol and
formaldehyde studies: Murray 2005.09.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1224
USA National Institutes of Health National Toxicology Program aids eminent
Ramazzini Foundation, Bologna, Italy, in more results on cancers in rats
from lifetime low levels of aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde), Felicity
Lawrence, www.guardian.co.uk: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1189
Michael F Jacobson of CSPI now and in 1985 re aspartame toxicity, letter to
FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford; California OEHHA aspartame critique
2004.03.12; Center for Consumer Freedom denounces CSPI: Murray 2005.07.27


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1143
methanol (formaldehyde, formic acid) disposition: Bouchard M et al, full
plain text, 2001: substantial sources are degradation of fruit pectins,
liquors, aspartame, smoke: Murray 2005.04.02 rmforall


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1213
aspartame (methanol, phenylalanine, aspartic acid) effects, detailed expert
studies in 2005 Aug and 1998 July, Tsakiris S, Schulpis KH, Karikas GA,
Kokotos G, Reclos RJ, et al, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens,
Greece: Murray 2005.09.09


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1045
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/scf2002-response.htm
Mark Gold exhaustively critiques European Commission Scientific
Committee on Food re aspartame ( 2002.12.04 ): 59 pages, 230 references

http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame mgold@...
Aspartame Toxicity Information Center Mark D. Gold
12 East Side Drive #2-18 Concord, NH 03301 603-225-2100
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"

Gold points out that industry methanol assays were too insensitive to
properly measure blood methanol levels. ]

Aspartame is made of phenylalanine (50% by weight) and aspartic acid (39%),
both ordinary amino acids, bound loosely together by methanol (wood alcohol,
11%). The readily released methanol from aspartame is within hours turned
by the liver into formaldehyde and then formic acid, both potent, cumulative
toxins.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1182
Joining together: short review: research on aspartame (methanol,
formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray 2005.07.08 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1071
research on aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray
2004.04.29 rmforall


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1131
genotoxicity of aspartame in human lymphocytes 2004.07.29 full plain text,
Rencuzogullari E et al, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey 2004 Aug: Murray
2004.11.06 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1088
Murray, full plain text & critique: chronic aspartame in rats affects
memory, brain cholinergic receptors, and brain chemistry, Christian B,
McConnaughey M et al, 2004 May: 2004.06.05 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1067
eyelid contact dermatitis by formaldehyde from aspartame, AM Hill & DV
Belsito, Nov 2003: Murray 2004.03.30 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/935
Comet assay finds DNA damage from sucralose, cyclamate, saccharin in
mice: Sasaki YF & Tsuda S Aug 2002: Murray 2003.01.01
[ Also borderline evidence, in this pilot study of 39 food additives,
using test groups of 4 mice, for DNA damage from for stomach, colon,
liver, bladder, and lung 3 hr after oral dose of 2000 mg/kg aspartame--
a very high dose. ]

Thrasher (2001): "The major difference is that the Japanese demonstrated
the incorporation of FA and its metabolites into the placenta and fetus.
The quantity of radioactivity remaining in maternal and fetal tissues
at 48 hours was 26.9% of the administered dose." [ Ref. 14-16 ]

Arch Environ Health 2001 Jul-Aug; 56(4): 300-11.
Embryo toxicity and teratogenicity of formaldehyde. [100 references]
Thrasher JD, Kilburn KH. toxicology@...
Sam-1 Trust, Alto, New Mexico, USA.
http://www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_embryo_toxicity.html full text

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/939
aspartame (aspartic acid, phenylalanine) binding to DNA:
Karikas July 1998: Murray 2003.01.05 rmforall
Karikas GA, Schulpis KH, Reclos GJ, Kokotos G
Measurement of molecular interaction of aspartame and
its metabolites with DNA. Clin Biochem 1998 Jul; 31(5): 405-7.
Dept. of Chemistry, University of Athens, Greece
http://www.chem.uoa.gr gkokotos@...
K.H. Schulpis inchildh@... G.J. Reclos reklos@...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1052
DMDC: Dimethyl dicarbonate 200mg/L in drinks adds methanol 98 mg/L
[ becomes formaldehyde in body ]: EU Scientific Committee on Foods
2001.07.12: Murray 2004.01.22 rmforall


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/925
aspartame puts formaldehyde adducts into tissues, Part 1/2
full text Trocho & Alemany 1998.06.26: Murray 2002.12.22
***************************************************************

http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legdetails.asp?Name=181&Submit=Search [ photo ]

Representative: Gail C. Beam gail.beam@...

District: 18 County(s): Bernalillo Party: Democrat
Occupation: Education Administrator
Address: 425 Aliso Drive NE Albuquerque, NM 87108
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4844 Home Phone: 266-5191

Bills Sponsored by Session

Committee Membership
Chair CONSUMER & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Member COURTS, CORRECTIONS & JUSTICE COMMITTEE (Interim)

Advisory FUNDING FORMULA STUDY TASK FORCE (Interim)

Member JUDICIARY

Advisory LEGISLATIVE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE (Interim)

Co-Chair TOBACCO SETTLEMENT REVENUE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (Interim)

http://www.nmpa.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=15

Educational Assessment Systems, Inc. - EASi, Honored With
2004 "Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award"

Albuquerque, NM - The New Mexico Psychological Association (NMPA) has
awarded Educational Assessment Systems, Inc. -- EASi,
the 2004 "Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award" for the company's
exceptional efforts in providing a psychologically healthy workplace for its
employees. The company is being recognized for its professional development
program that is designed to address challenges EASi employees have faced
with employee isolation as a result of working in a rural communities.
EASi created strategies to provide employees with professional connections
and a stronger sense of community through the use of the internet,
continuing
education opportunities, newsletters, in-house support staff and a
comprehensive benefits package.
The award was presented to
EASi Chief Executive Officer Gail Chasey Beam, Ph.D.,
and several EASi employees on Friday, October 15,
at NMPA's Annual Conference, Hilton Albuquerque, 1901 University Blvd.
For nearly 25 years, EASi has served children and adults with special needs
in New Mexico.

New Mexico Psychological Association newmexpa@...
2501 San Pedro NE, Suite 110, Albuquerque, NM 87110
505.883,7376 voice / 505.883.0017 fax http://www.nmpa.com/

http://www.edua.com/
Educational Assessment Systems, Inc. -- EASi
5200 Copper NE Albuquerque, NM 87108
505-255-5099 888-900-5099 (toll free) 505-255-4206 (fax)
General information: x2 or mailbox@...
***************************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1110
Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde 1/4 plain text, start to 111 of 468
pages USA DHHS PHS ATSDR 1999 July: Murray 2004.08.10 rmforall

[ Text unaltered, except for spacing for enhanced clarity. My comments are
in square brackets. The four sections have URLs /1110, /1111, /1112 ,
/1113 ]

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp111.pdf

TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR FORMALDEHYDE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
July 1999

FORMALDEHYDE page 338 Table 7-1 REGULATIONS AND ADVISORIES

Table 7-1. Regulations and Guidelines Applicable to Formaldehyde (continued)
Agency Description Information References
NATIONAL (cont.)....b. Water:...
Lifetime Health Advisory (adult)-draft 1 mg/L [1 ppm = 1,000 µg/L drinking
water]

FORMALDEHYDE page 339 Table 7-1 REGULATIONS AND ADVISORIES

Table 7-1. Regulations and Guidelines Applicable to Formaldehyde (continued)
Agency Description Information References
STATE (cont.)...
b. Water [ page 340 ]
Water Quality Criteria: Human Health... [ compared to federal standard ]
CA Drinking water (guideline) 30 µg/L [ 33 times less ]
MD Drinking water (guideline) 10 µg/L [100 times less ]
ME Drinking water (guideline) 30 µg/L [ 33 times less ]
NJ Drinking water (guideline) 100 µg/L [ 10 times less ]

Reference: FSTRAC 1995
Federal State Toxicology and Regulatory Alliance Committee
http://yosemite.epa.gov/water/owrccatalog.nsf/0/482ef4d32a877
cca85256b0600725224?OpenDocument February 1990 130-pages
FSTRAC. 1990. Summary of state and federal drinking water standards
and guidelines. Washington, DC:
Federal-State Toxicology and Regulatory Alliance Committee,
Chemical Communication Subcommittee. Report 7, p. 17.
***************************************************************

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1991 Feb; 13(1): 18-35.
A survey and analysis of states' methodologies for deriving drinking water
guidelines for chemical contaminants.
Paull JM, Joellenbeck LM, Cochran RC, Sidhu KS.
Federal-State Toxicology and Regulatory Alliance Committee, Environmental
Toxicology and Risk Assessment Division, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.

Data from a national survey questionnaire regarding the development of
guidelines for chemical contaminants in drinking water were collected
from all 50 states.
Twenty-three states develop at least some of their own guidelines;
the other 27 states rely on guidelines previously developed by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) or by other states.
States which derive guidelines generally employ toxicological criteria
and risk assessment methodologies developed by the US EPA.
Fourteen of the twenty-three states that develop their own guidelines
depend on cancer potency factors derived by the US EPA
to establish risk-based concentrations for carcinogens.
Most of the states develop guidelines based on preventing
possible excess cancer risk greater than one in one million.
Seventeen of these twenty-three states rely on oral reference doses (RfDs)
to derive guidelines for noncarcinogens.
Examination and clarification of the states' approaches to guideline
derivation reveal that
although similar risk assessment techniques are generally employed,
differences in assumptions,
chemical classifications,
and uncertainty factors
may lead to variation in resultant guidance levels.
Improved communication and coordination between states and the federal
government may help reduce the variations and inconsistencies among the
states in establishing drinking water guidelines for chemical contaminants.
PMID: 2024043
***************************************************************

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 1991 Jun; 13(3): 293-308.
Standard setting processes and regulations for environmental contaminants
in drinking water: state versus federal needs and viewpoints.
Sidhu KS.
Interagency Center on Health and Environmental Quality,
Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing 48909.

The primary objective of a standard setting process is to arrive at a
drinking water concentration at which exposure to a contaminant would
result in no known or potential adverse health effect on human health.
The drinking water standards also serve as guidelines to prevent
pollution of water sources and may be applicable in some cases
as regulatory remediation levels.
The risk assessment methods along with various decision making
parameters are used to establish drinking water standards.
For carcinogens classified in Groups A and B by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
the standards are set by using nonthreshold cancer risk models.
The linearized multistage model is commonly used for computation
of potency factors for carcinogenic contaminants.
The acceptable excess risk level may vary from 10(-6) to 10(-4).
For noncarcinogens, a threshold model approach based on application
of an uncertainty factor is used to arrive at a reference dose (RfD).
The RfD approach may also be used for carcinogens
classified in Group C by the US EPA.

The RfD approach with an additional uncertainty factory of 10 for
carcinogenicity has been applied in the formulation
of risk assessment for Group C carcinogens.

The assumptions commonly used in arriving at drinking water standards are
human life expectancy, 70 years; average human body weight, 70 kg;
human daily drinking water consumption, 2 liters;
and contribution of exposure to the contaminant from drinking water
(expressed as a part of the total environmental exposure), 20%.
Currently, there are over 80 USEPA existing or proposed primary
standards for organic and inorganic contaminants in drinking water.
Some of the state versus federal needs and viewpoints are discussed.
PMID: 1947238
***************************************************************

J Appl Toxicol. 2000 Sep-Oct; 20(5): 365-80.
Development of California Public Health Goals (PHGs)
for chemicals in drinking water.
Howd RA, Brown JP, Morry DW, Wang YY, Bankowska J, Budroe JD,
Campbell M, DiBartolomeis MJ, Faust J, Jowa L, Lewis D, Parker T,
Polakoff J, Rice DW, Salmon AG, Tomar RS, Fan AM.
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment,
California Environmental Protection Agency, Oakland 94612, USA.

As part of a program for evaluation of environmental contaminants
in drinking water, risk assessments are being conducted to develop
Public Health Goals (PHGs) for chemicals in drinking water,
based solely on public health considerations.
California's Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 mandated the development
of PHGs for over 80 chemicals by 31 December 1999.

The law allowed these levels to be set higher or lower than federal
maximum contaminant levels (MCLs),
including a level of zero if data are insufficient to determine a specific
level.

The estimated safe levels and toxicological rationale
for the first 26 of these chemicals are described here.

The chemicals include alachlor, antimony, benzo[a]pyrene, chlordane, copper,
cyanide, dalapon, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 2,4-D,
diethylhexylphthalate, dinoseb, endothall, ethylbenzene, fluoride,
glyphosate,
lead, nitrate, nitrite, oxamyl, pentachlorophenol, picloram,
trichlorofluoromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethane, uranium and xylene(s).
These risk assessments are to be considered by the State of California
in revising and developing state MCLs for chemicals in drinking water
(which must not exceed federal MCLs).
The estimates are also notable for incorporation or consideration
of newer guidelines and principles for risk assessment extrapolations.
PMID: 11139167
***************************************************************