*******************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1311
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment in 2004
rejected poor 2003 NTP studies of aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde)
carcinogenicity (highly praised by industry PR): Murray 2006.03.03

The 2005 Remazzini study used doses of 0, 0.004, 0.020, 0.100,
0.500, 2.500, and 5.000 grams per kilogram body weight = g/kg ,
in a total of 1800 rats over three years, until spontaneous death of
each rat at old age, giving ample time for tumors to develop to
observable sizes -- a very powerful study by an internationally famous
eminent research team, not controlled by industry or government.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1250
aspartame causes cancer in rats at levels approved for humans,
Morando Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Foundation, Italy &
National Toxicology Program
of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
2005.11.17 Env. Health Pers. 35 pages: Murray

Both this decisive study and a detailed review by the
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment,
California Environmental Protection Agency, in March 2004,
mention critical limitations and failings in earlier aspartame
carcinogenicity studies.

Using the same methods, lifetime studies of huge numbers of rats,
with painstaking microscopic examination of many tissues in each rat,
the Ramazzi Foundation had proved the carcinogenicity in 2002 of
the inevitable breakdown products of aspartame, methanol and
formaldehyde, to which humans are about ten times more vulnerable
than rats.

In previous decades, the Ramazzini Foundation, earned its claim to
fame with equally decisive studies on benzene, vinyl chloride, gasoline,
benzene, ethyl alcohol, and acetaldehyde -- results that motivated
measures to protect the peoples of the world.

Accordingly, recent PR efforts of the Calorie Control Council,
hired by Ajinomoto, to discredit the Ramazzini findings can only fail,
while motivating more world citizens to become aware of the real facts.

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 2004.07.27
*******************************************************

[ Comments by Rich Murray are in square brackets.
Spacing of lines has been changed to add clarity and emphasis. ]

"The National Toxicology Program (NTP, 2003a) has conducted
non-standard bioassays in both sexes of genetically altered
(p53 haploinsufficent) mice.

Animals in groups of 15 were fed aspartame for nine months at feed
concentrations ranging from 3,125 to 50,000 ppm.

There was no evidence of treated-related carcinogenicity.


This provides limited information on the potential for aspartame to induce
cancer in humans; group sizes were small and the use of the genetically
altered mouse is a new model.


Thus, there is uncertainty as to whether the study possessed sufficient
sensitivity to detect a carcinogenic effect (NTP, 2003b)."


"National Toxicology Program (NTP, 2003a). DRAFT NTP
Technical Report on the Toxicity Studies of Aspartame
(CAS No. 22839-47-0)
in FVB/N-TgN(v-Ha-ras)Led (Tg.AC) Hemizygous Mice
and Carcinogenicity Studies of Aspartame
in B6.129-Trp53tn1Brd (N5) Haplosufficient Mice (Feed Studies).
NTP, NTP GMM 1, NIH Publication

No. 03-4459. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, National Institute of Health.
National Toxicology Program (NTP, 2003b).
Actions on Draft Technical Reports
by the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors,
Technical Reports Review Subcommittee, May 22, 2003.
Available at: http://ntpserver.
niehs.nih.gov/Meetings/2003/May2003Actions.html."


http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/docs_state/crnrbatch4final45.html#get

[ California ] OEHHA
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Proposition 65 - Prioritization Notices

Availability of Final Data Summaries and Priorities for Chemicals With
Respect to Their Evaluation by the OEHHA Science Advisory Board's
Carcinogen Identification Committee [03/12/04]

Cynthia Oshita coshita@... Subject: batch 4 priorities
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
P.O. Box 4010 Sacramento, California 95812-4010
FAX: (916) 323-8803 Telephone: (916) 445-6900

http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/docs_state/pdf/bat4final45sums.pdf

FINAL PRIORITIZED CANDIDATE CHEMICALS UNDER
CONSIDERATION FOR CARCINOGENICITY EVALUATION:
FOURTY FIVE BATCH #4 CHEMICALS
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California Environmental Protection Agency March 2004

On October 17, 2003, OEHHA announced the release of draft priority
assignments and draft data summaries for 47 of 50 chemicals ("Batch 4")
selected for prioritization with respect to their potential to cause cancer.
Final priority assignments and data summaries for 45 of the 47
chemicals for which draft priorities had been assigned are presented here.

BATCH #4 PRIORITIZED CHEMICALS FINAL MARCH 2004
page 35

CARCINOGENICITY DATA SUMMARY: ASPARTAME

Preliminary evaluation of carcinogenicity and exposure data

Aspartame [Equal®; NutraSweet®;
L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester; CAS No. 22839-47-0]
did not reach a level of carcinogenicity concern sufficient
to be placed on the candidate list.

There is, however, some carcinogenicity concern over observations
of brain tumors in aspartame-treated rats.


Reliable animal studies have not been conducted despite the widespread
human exposure to this artificial sweetener.


Epidemiologic data provide inadequate information on which to judge
carcinogenicity.


One small epidemiologic study found no evidence of an effect of
aspartame consumption on brain tumor risk in children.

Aspartame has been suggested as an explanation for increased rates of
human brain cancer.


Further epidemiologic and toxicologic studies are needed on the
carcinogenicity of this chemical.


No large epidemiological studies of carcinogenicity have been conducted.


Olney et al. (1996), performing a descriptive analysis of national cancer
data, suggested the possibility that aspartame might be associated with
increased incidence of brain tumors in the U.S.

A small study (Gurney et al., 1997) of aspartame consumption in children
and brain tumor risk found no evidence that cases (n=56) were more
likely to consume foods containing aspartame than controls (n=90).


There have been multiple carcinogenicity studies of aspartame in animals,
each of which is inadequate for judging carcinogenicity.

Searle Laboratories has conducted two sets of studies in rats.

In the first set, referred to as Study E-33/34, female and male Charles
River CD Sprague-Dawley albino rats were fed 0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 g/kg
[ body weight ] aspartame daily for 104 weeks.

In female rats, one 4 g/kg dose animal was observed with brain tumor
(ependymoma) and three high dose females were (2 meningioma, 1 glioma)
(Searle Laboratories, 1973).


The brain tumor incidences in the Searle Laboratories (1973) report (number
of tumors/number of animals examined) in the 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g/kg females
were 0/59, 0/4, 0/4,1/4, 3/39, respectively,
a statistically significant increase with increasing dose (p = 0.0206,
Fisher Exact trend test; p = 0.0167, Cochran-Armitage trend test).


In male rats, one brain tumor, a meningioma, was observed in the high
dose group.

The incidences were: 0/58, 0/4, 0/3, 0/1, 1/40 (Searle Laboratories, 1973).


Searle Laboratories (1973) reported that these findings were not
statistically significant (although Fisher Exact trend test for females
indicates otherwise).


The FDA Commissioner (1981) noted
"variations in tumor count among the several persons or groups who
viewed the slides."


The FDA's Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) reported the following brain
tumors incidences (number of tumors/"total number of animals at risk"):
females, 0/59, 2/40, 0/40, 1/40, 2/38;
males, 1/59, 2/40, 0/40, 1/40, 2/38.


These data, as reported by the PBOI, do not reflect the limited numbers
of animals examined for brain histopathology in the low-, mid-, and
midhigh-dose groups of both sexes,
nor do these data reflect a significant increase in brain tumors with
increasing dose in females.


The PBOI expressed concern over the early occurrence of brain tumors
in some animals (FDA Commissioner, 1981).


There was disagreement among examining pathologists as to the positive
finding in the male control group, with one of three finding no tumor
(FDA Commissioner, 1981).


The PBOI also considered historical background incidence of brain
tumors in interpreting the study findings, and concluded that the available
data did not rule out the possibility that aspartame might induce brain
tumors (FDA Commissioner, 1981).


In the second set of Searle Laboratory studies,
referred to as study E-70, aspartame was fed to female Charles River
Sprague-Dawley rat dams during pregnancy and lactation
and to their offspring after weaning for 104 weeks.

Daily dose levels were 0, 2, and 4 g/kg.


Five of 160 aspartame-fed rats and four of 120 controls were reported
with brain tumors.


Hyperplastic liver nodules were increased in treated females.

An FDA review panel concluded that Searle Laboratories
did not employ a feed analysis program to monitor
their incorporation of test compound into feed.

FDA's PBOI (Nauta et al., 1980)
considered this a deficient study (FDA Commissioner, 1981).
[ PBOI = Public Board Of Inquiry ]

Ishii (1981) fed groups of SCL Wistar rats
0, 1, 2 or 4 g/kg aspartame,
or 4 gm/kg aspartame + diketopiperazine (DKP) (3:1)
for 104 weeks and evaluated brain tumorigenicity.

Interim sacrifice included 10 animals/sex/group at
26 weeks and 16 animals/sex/group at 52 weeks.

No brain tumors were observed in the interim sacrifice animals.

Total number of animals in the main groups was 60 sex/group;
the number surviving to 104 weeks was reduced in some groups
to as few as 16 (1 g/kg males),
and in all groups was less than 30 in males
and lower in males than females.

Among females, one control had an "atypical astrocytoma";
two brain tumors were found at 2 g/kg (1 astrocytoma, 1 ependymoma)
and one at 4 g/kg (oligodendroglioma).

In males, one treated at 1 mg/kg was found with oligodendroglioma
and one at 4 g/kg with astrocytoma.

Studies in mice fed aspartame in diet found no indication of increased
tumor incidence (FDA Commissioner, 1981).

Details of study results have not been published.

BATCH #4 PRIORITIZED CHEMICALS FINAL MARCH 2004

page 36

The National Toxicology Program (NTP, 2003a) has conducted
non-standard bioassays in both sexes of genetically altered
(p53 haploinsufficent) mice.

Animals in groups of 15 were fed aspartame for nine months at feed
concentrations ranging from 3,125 to 50,000 ppm.

There was no evidence of treated-related carcinogenicity.


This provides limited information on the potential for aspartame to
induce cancer in humans; group sizes were small and
the use of the genetically altered mouse is a new model.


Thus, there is uncertainty as to whether the study possessed sufficient
sensitivity to detect a carcinogenic effect (NTP, 2003b).


Aspartame breaks down spontaneously to diketopiperazine (DKP),
which normally comprises less than 2% of the final aspartame product
(FDA Commissioner, 1981). [ a known carcinogen ]


DKP was tested for brain tumorigenic activity in Sprague-Dawley rats
fed DKP for 115 weeks (FDA Commissioner, 1981), in a study
referred to as E-77/78, at doses of 0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 g/kg.

No increased incidence of brain tumors compared to untreated rats
was observed.


An FDA inspection team investigated the laboratory carrying out this
study and found irregularities that included evidence of improper feed
mixing (the chow was ground to a fine powder,
but the DKP was present in large chunks),
which may have allowed the rats to avoid eating the DKP
(Bressler, 1977).


The team also noted methodological quality control issues that could
impact on the study findings.


The promoting potential of aspartame on urinary bladder
carcinogenesis,
initiated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN),
was studied in male F344 rats who received 0.01% BBN in drinking
water for four weeks followed by 5% aspartame in the diet
for 32 weeks (total aspartame intake, 400 gm/kg).

The incidences of bladder lesions were not increased in the 28 rats
surviving to the end of the experiment, 36 weeks
(Hagiwara et al., 1984).

Aspartame was not mutagenic in TA 100 and TA 98 Salmonella tester
strains (Shephard et al., 1993).

Aspartame, nitrosated in vitro (to simulate the nitrosation that occurs in
the stomach), was mutagenic towards TA100, TA104, and TA98
without metabolic activation,
but not toward TA102 (Shephard et al., 1993).

Aspartame was not clastogenic, in vivo, in mice (Durnev et al., 1995).

Jeffrey and Williams (2000) reported that aspartame in vitro did not
induce DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes.

Mukhopadhyay et al. (2000) report in vivo co-exposure of aspartame
and acesulfame potassium was negative for the induction of
chromosome aberrations in male Swiss mice bone marrow cells.

Aspartame adducts were found in nucleic acids and proteins from
aspartame-fed rats, and the authors concluded aspartame-derived
formaldehyde was responsible for adduct formation
(Trocho et al., 1998).

There is a HIGH level of concern over the extent of exposure to
aspartame.

Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener, first approved in 1981,
currently consumed by more than 100 million people around
the world (Calorie Control Council, 2002).
In the U.S., aspartame is available for use
in more than 1500 products,
including table-top sweeteners, carbonated beverages, baked goods,
chewable multi-vitamins, hot and cold breakfast cereals, chewing gum,
puddings and fillings, candies, cough drops, pharmaceuticals, and many
other products (Calorie Control Council, 2002).

The "acceptable daily intake" of aspartame, established by FDA,
is 50 mg/kg;
a food intake survey conducted by U.S. Department of Agriculture
found some people in the U.S. consumed more than 16 mg/kg/day
(Butchko et al., 1994).

References

Bressler J (1977).
FDA field inspection report pertaining to E-77-78,
Diketopiperazine 2-year rat feeding study.
Submitted to FDA Bureau of Foods, August 1977.

Butchko HH, Tschanz C, Kotsonis FN (1994).
Postmarketing surveillance of food additives.
Reg Tox Pharm 20: 105-118.
[ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/911
RTP ties to industry criticized by CSPI: Murray: 2002.12.09 rmforall ]

Calorie Control Council (2002).
Low-Calorie Sweeteners: Aspartame.
Available at: www.caloriecontrol.org/aspartame.html.

Durnev AD, Oreshchenko AV, Kulakova AV,
Berensten NF, Seredenin SB (1995).
Clastogenic activity of dietary sugar substitutes.
Voprosy Meditscinskoi Icimii 41(4): 31-33.

FDA Commissioner (1981).
Aspartame: Commissioner's Final Decision.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
Food and Drug Administration.
Docket No. 75F-0355. 46 Fed Reg 38285: 471-523.

Gurney JG, Pogoda JM, Holly EA,
Hecht SS, Preston-Martin S (1997).
Aspartame consumption in relation to childhood brain tumor risk:
results from a case-control study. Brief communication.
J Natl Cancer Inst 89(14): 1072-1074.

Hagiwara A, Fukushima S, Kitaori M, Shibata M, Ito N (1984).
Effects of three sweeteners on rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis
initiated by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine.
Gann 74(9): 763-768.

Ishii H (1981).
Incidence of brain tumors in rats fed aspartame.
Toxicology Lett 7: 433-437.

Jeffrey AM, Williams GM (2000).
Lack of DNA-damaging activity of five
non-nutritive sweeteners in the rat hepatocyte/DNA repair assay.
Food Chem Toxicol 38(4): 335-8.

Mukhopadhyay M, Mukherjee A, Chakrabarti J (2000).
In vivo cytogenetic studies on blends of aspartame and acesulfame-K.
Food Chem Toxicol 38(1): 75-7.

Nauta W, Lampert P, Young V (1980).
Aspartame: decision of the public board of inquiry.
FDA Docket No. 75F-0355. Federal Register 45:69558.

National Toxicology Program (NTP, 2003a).
DRAFT NTP Technical Report on the Toxicity Studies of
Aspartame (CAS No. 22839-47-0) in FVB/N-TgN(v-Ha-ras)Led
(Tg.AC) Hemizygous Mice and Carcinogenicity Studies of
Aspartame in B6.129-Trp53tn1Brd (N5) Haplosufficient Mice
(Feed Studies).
NTP, NTP GMM 1, NIH Publication

No. 03-4459. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, National Institute of Health.
National Toxicology Program (NTP, 2003b).
Actions on Draft Technical Reports
by the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors,
Technical Reports Review Subcommittee, May 22, 2003.
Available at: http://ntpserver.
niehs.nih.gov/Meetings/2003/May2003Actions.html.

Olney JW, Farber NB, Spitznagel E, Robins, LN (1996).
Increasing brain tumor rates: is there a link to aspartame?
J Neuropath Experimental Neurol 56(1): 1115-23.

Searle Laboratories (1973).
SC-188862: Two Year Toxicity Study in the Rat.
P-T 838H71, Final report. Entry E-34.
Submitted to Searle Laboratories by
Hazleton Laboratories, Inc. dated January 12, 1973.
Obtained from FDA's Hearing Clerk's office,
as "Study E33/34 in Master File 134 on Aspartame".

Shepard SE, Wakabayashi K, Nagao M (1993).
Mutagenic activity of peptides
and the artificial sweetener aspartame after nitrosation.
Food Chem Toxicol 31(5): 323-329.

Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J, Remesar X,
Fernandex-Lopez JA, Alemany M (1998).
Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to
tissue components in vivo. Life Sci 63(5): 337-349.
[ 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 rmforall ]

BATCH #4 PRIORITIZED CHEMICALS FINAL MARCH 2004
page 37
*******************************************************

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=66211-ajinomoto-aspartame-cancer

No cancer link found in new aspartame study
By Lorraine Heller

Related News

Doubts cast over value of low-calorie sweeteners
North American aspartame industry denounces 'flawed' study
EFSA scientists to review aspartame study
Aspartame defended as safe

3/3/2006 -- A recent study has found that the controversial sweetener
aspartame does not increase the incidence of tumors in mice, but the
scientists point out that this does not necessarily mean it is not a
carcinogen. [ actually published in 2003 in a bureaucratic report,
not a peer-reviewed scientific journal ]

The new research was conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) in a
move to evaluate the product's toxicological and
carcinogenic potential after earlier studies had revealed it to
increase brain tumors.

The tests were conducted on three groups of genetically modified mice, whose
genes had been altered to predispose the animals to cancer.

During the nine month research period, groups of 15 male and 15 female mice
were fed diets containing aspartame at significantly higher doses
than the average levels consumed by humans.

And despite the appearance of neoplasms and papilloma-abnormal
tissue growth, which was also observed in mice in control groups,
the researchers concluded that the studies showed
"no consistent carcinogenic response that would raise concerns about
the safety of this widely consumed artificial sweetener."

However, the NTP, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human
Services, also pointed out that in its tests for carcinogenic activity,
"negative results, in which the study animals do not have a
greater incidence of neoplasia than control animals,
do not necessarily mean that a chemical is not a carcinogen,
inasmuch as the experiments are conducted
under a limited set of conditions."

And because the use of genetically modified mice is still a
new testing model, "there is uncertainty whether the study possessed
sufficient sensitivity to detect a carcinogenic effect,"
the scientists concluded.

Most studies conducted on genetically modified mice to identify
potential carcinogens take place over a period of six months, which
may be an adequate period to identify relatively potent carcinogens.

However, this may not be the case when it comes to weaker
carcinogens.
In order to "partially address" this issue, the NTP increased
the testing period to 9 months.

Another potential drawback of the testing method is that the control mice
in one of the genetically modified models used developed high incidence
of benign or malignant tumors, something that may have interfered with
the clarity of results.
"The high background papilloma incidence in controls would limit the
ability to detect a weak response that lacked
a dramatic increase in tumor multiplicity," said the scientists.

Overall survival rates and body weight of the mice were not affected by
aspartame consumption.

Aspartame is currently used in a variety of food and beverage items,
such as yogurt, desserts and carbonated drinks.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved it for use
n certain products in 1974.
In 1996 its use as a general purpose sweetener was approved.

[ The 1974 approval was soon rescinded after major flaws were found
in the aspartame industry research.

Not until July, 1981 was Donald Rumsfeld, CEO of Searle Co. after 1977, able
to use political means to force the limited approval of aspartame by a new
FDA Commissioner, Arthur Hayes Hull,
who simply ignored the negative vote of his own scientific
Board of Public Inquiry, as summarized in the full-page expose in
the Sunday New York Times on February 12, 2006:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1302
The Lowdown on Sweet? (Ramazzini Foundation, M Soffritti proof that
aspartame causes cancers), Melanie Warner, The New York Times:
Murray 2006.02.12 ]

Current estimation sets the nation's total aspartame consumption at
8,040 tons per year, with the acceptable daily intake set by the FDA
being 50 mg aspartame/kg body weight.

The recent NTP research on the product was conducted in response to
growing concerns over its links to cancer.

Previous research cited by the NTP study includes evidence that the
consumption of aspartame together with carbohydrates could interfere
with the normal development of the nervous system in young children.

Since 1988 the FDA has received around 4,000 consumer complaints
linked to the sweetener, with symptoms including headaches, dizziness,
mood change and vomiting.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published an evaluation of
reactions to aspartame and noted that neurological and behavioral
symptoms were most frequently reported.
However, the CDC concluded that it could not make a clear association
between aspartame consumption and these adverse effects.

The most recent stir for the aspartame industry came last year when
researchers at the Ramazzini Institute for cancer research in Italy
conducted a study that linked aspartame to the development
of lymphomas and leukaemia in female laboratory animals.

But despite coming under constant attack by consumer groups and
health organizations, the industry stands firm, citing a body of supportive
scientific evidence as well as conducting research of its own.

In 2001, aspartame manufacturer NutraSweet collected post-marketing
information on the sweetener and reported that there was no evidence
of a link between aspartame and adverse health effects.

And manufacturer Ajinomoto was quick to jump on the latest research
by NTP, which it says "reconfirms the safety of aspartame."

Copyright - Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are
© 2000/2006 - Decision News Media SAS - All Rights Reserved.
For permission to reproduce any contents of this web site,
please email our Syndication department: Administration & Finance .
Full details for the use of materials on this site
can be found in the Terms & Conditions.
*******************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1307
formaldehyde from 11% methanol part of aspartame or from red wine
causes same toxicity (hangover) harm: Murray 2006.03.03

"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority,
to actively find, quickly share, and act upon the facts
about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@...
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 151 members, 1,311 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com http://AspartameNM.blogspot.com

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide
similar levels of methanol, above 120 mg daily, for
long-term heavy users, 2 L daily, about 6 cans.

Within hours, methanol is inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde,
and thence largely into formic acid -- the major causes of the dreaded
symptoms of "next morning" hangover.

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.

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

Any unsuspected source of methanol, which the body always quickly
and largely turns into formaldehyde and then formic acid, must be
monitored, especially for high responsibility occupations, often with
night shifts, such as pilots and nuclear reactor operators.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1291
European Food Safety Authority to decide aspartame safety by May:
caffeine diet drinks cause female hypertension, WC Winkelmayer et al,
JAMA 2005.11.09: PubMed lists 50 items for "diet soft drinks" since
2004 Oct.: Murray 2006.01.24

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1279
all three aspartame metabolites harm human erythrocyte [red blood cell]
membrane enzyme activity, KH Schulpis et al, two studies in 2005,
Athens, Greece, 2005.12.14: 2004 research review, RL Blaylock:
Murray 2006.01.14

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/1271
combining aspartame and quinoline yellow, or MSG and brilliant blue,
harms nerve cells, eminent C. Vyvyan Howard et al, 2005
education.guardian.co.uk, Felicity Lawrence: Murray 2005.12.21

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1250
aspartame causes cancer in rats at levels approved for humans,
Morando Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Foundation, Italy &
National Toxicology Program
of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
2005.11.17 Env. Health Pers. 35 pages: Murray

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 rmforall

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).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/870
Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Interest 1984: Monte:
Murray 2002.09.23

Humans suffer "toxic syndrome" (54) at a minimum lethal dose
of <1 gm/kg, much less than that of monkeys, 3-6 g/kg (42, 59).

The minimum lethal dose of methanol
in the rat, rabbit, and dog is 9.5, 7.0 , and 8.0 g/kg, respectively (43);
ethyl alcohol is more toxic than methanol to these test animals (43)."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1302
The Lowdown on Sweet? (Ramazzini Foundation, M Soffritti proof that
aspartame causes cancers), Melanie Warner, The New York Times:
Murray 2006.02.12

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1303
David L. Katz MD comments briefly with Diane Sawyer on ABC
Good Morning America re Ramazzini aspartame cancer study:
excellent opus at Yale U: mainstream research on aspartame
(methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray 2006.02.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1304
to DL Katz MD, Yale U: M. Soffritti, Ramazzini F., did not mention that
humans are about 10X more vulnerable to aspartame than are rats:
found methanol and formaldehyde carcinogenicity 2002: human ADI
levels must be reduced hugely: Katz: Murray 2006.02.15

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1306
ban aspartame speech, Roger Williams MP, UK Parliament
2005.12.14: www.TheyWorkForYou.com: Murray 2006.02.20

As a medical layman, I suggest that evidence mandates immediate
exploration of the role of these ubiquitious, potent formaldehyde
sources as co-factors in epidemiology, research, diagnosis,
and treatment in a wide variety of disorders.

Folic acid, from fruits and vegetables, plays a role by powerfully
protecting against methanol (formaldehyde) toxicity.

Many common drugs, such as aspirin, interfere with folic acid,
as do some mutations in relevant enzymes.

The majority of aspartame reactors are female.

In mutual service, Rich Murray
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1310
Aspartame and smoking give the same toxic metabolite as does benzene,
Lin YS et al, U N Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2006 Jan.,
Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility: Murray 2006.03.01

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1309
History and origin of benzene in soft drinks, Ross E. Getman, Esq,
Wash DC and NY State Bars, http://argentina.indymedia.org:
Murray 2006.03.01

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

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. Methanol is the only component of aspartame that can
lead to DNA damage. ]
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