carcinogenic effect of inhaled formaldehyde, Federal Institute of Risk
Assessment, Germany -- same safe level as for Canada:
Murray 2006.06.02
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1353


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1349
NIH NLM ToxNet HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank
inadaquate re aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid):
Murray 2006.06.01

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1352
Home sickness -- indoor air often worse, as our homes seal in
pollutants [one is formaldehyde, also from the 11% methanol
part of aspartame], Megan Gillis, WinnipegSun.com:
Murray 2006.06.01


"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority,
to actively find, quickly share, and positively 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 71 members, 1,353 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com


http://www.chemie.de/news/e/55226/?pw=a&defop=and&wild=yes&sdate=01/01/1995&edat\
e=06/02/2006

Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR)
[Federal Institute for Risk Assessment]
Berlin, Germany

Carcinogenic effect of inhaled formaldehyde sufficiently documented
BfR presents results of scientific assessment and recommends new
classification

06/02/2006 - Formaldehyde is produced on a large scale around the
world and is present in many consumer products.
Small amounts of the substance are also formed during cell metabolism
in man and animals.

Formaldehyde is harmful; it irritates the mucous membranes
and can trigger cancer in the nasopharynx when it is inhaled.

These are the results of an assessment of new studies presented
by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
The Institute believes that there is sufficient evidence that this substance
can trigger tumours in the nasopharynx when inhaled.
It, therefore, proposes a change to the current classification.
The harmful action of formaldehyde depends on the concentration.

"Scarcely any carcinogenic effect is to be expected at indoor air levels
of or below 125 micrograms formaldehyde per cubic metre",
said the President of the Federal Institute,
Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel.
"However, repeated, clear exceeding of this value may entail risks
to health."

Results from animal experiments pointed to a carcinogenic effect in man.
However, in numerous epidemiological studies
no elevated cancer risk could be detected.
Formaldehyde was, therefore, classified as a substance
with "a reasonable suspicion of carcinogenic potential".

More recent, highly comprehensive studies on workers in the USA
have now, however, confirmed an elevated, exposure-related
mortality rate caused by tumours in the nasopharynx.
Cases of spontaneous tumours are rare in human beings
with the exception of some occupational exposure situations.
Following its reevaluation
the International Agency on Research of Cancer, IARC,
therefore proposed a reclassification of formaldehyde
as a human carcinogen. It has not yet stated its reasons.

The study results prompted the
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment to reassess the carcinogenic
risks linked to formaldehyde.
To this end, it commissioned an expert report from
the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg.
Like the report the Institute comes to the conclusion that this substance
can trigger cancer in man if inhaled and suggests a corresponding
classification.

This estimation is shared by the agency in France responsible for
assessing this existing substance.

The carcinogenic action of formaldehyde leads to a change in genetic
information. In the past a "simplified approach" was used for the
assessment of substances of this kind.
Every level is deemed to be harmful
and no threshold value is established.

For its reassessment BfR chose a new conceptual approach which
permits more differentiated consideration.
The carcinogenic action of formaldehyde is based
namely on two biological mechanisms:
the cytotoxic effect to which the body responds with cell proliferation,
and a change in genetic information.
Both mechanisms develop joint action from a specific level upwards.

Based on data obtained from animals and man, BfR has, therefore,
established a so-called "safe level" on the basis
of the two mechanisms of action.
It is 0.124 milligram per cubic metre indoor air.
[ 124 micrograms per cubic meter indoor air ]
An air concentration up to this level is deemed to be a concentration
at and below which an elevated risk above the background risk
is practically no longer to be expected.
By contrast, repeated, clear exceeding of this level
may entail health risks.

For the purposes of risk assessment
from the consumer protection angle,
an estimation of exposure of human beings
in their home environment is needed.
The available data show that pressboard sheets,
along with other building materials, still rank amongst the more
important sources of exposure to formaldehyde.

The European Commission will decide on the definitive classification of
formaldehyde.

Chemie.DE Information Service GmbH
Seydelstraße 28
D-10117 Berlin
phone: +49 (0) 30 204568-0 fax: +49 (0) 30 204568-70
redaktion@...; info@...;

Bundesinstitut for risk evaluation
[Federal Institute for Risk Assessment]
Post office Thielallee 88-92 14195 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30-8412-0 Fax: +49 (0) 30-8412-4741
poststelle@...;

Public-relevant questions to Institut and Dienstleistungsspektrum as well
as orders of publications address you please to the Pressestelle.
Bundesinstitut for risk evaluation
Pressestelle Thielallee 88-92 14195 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0) 30-8412-4300 Fax: +49 (0) 30-8412-4970
pressestelle@...;
*******************************************************


http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/alt_formats/hecs-sesc/pdf/pubs/air/formaldehyde/\
in-formaldehyde_e.pdf
42 pages
Proposed residential indoor air quality guidelines for formaldehyde
August 2005 Author: Nicholas L. Gilbert
[ Air Health Effects Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
nicolas_gilbert@... ]

[ Sadly, no mention is made of the fact that the human body always
turns ingested methanol into formaldehyde, and then formic acid, or
that aspartame diet sodas and dark wines and liquors convey similar
levels of methanol, which, converted into formaldedhyde, are the main
cause of "morning after" hangovers.

The same omissions were in a detailed USA EPA review:

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, Lyme disease:
Murray 2004.08.08 ]

ABSTRACT
In the 1980s, Health Canada and the Federal-Provincial Advisory
Committee on Occupational and Environmental Health (CEOH)
developed a series of indoor air quality guidelines that were published
in 1987 in a report entitled Exposure Guidelines for Residential
Indoor Air Quality (CEOH 1989).

For formaldehyde, target and action levels were set at
60 ug/m3 (50 ppb) and 120 ug/m3 (100 ppb), respectively.

However, since then, a significant amount of research has been carried
out and published on the health effects of some of these substances,
warranting a reassessment of the scientific basis of the guidelines and
potentially a revision of the guidelines themselves.

The purpose of this document is to revisit the guidelines developed for
formaldehyde in view of epidemiological and toxicological studies
published since 1987.

Based on human clinical studies and on animal experiments, the primary
effects of acute exposure to formaldehyde are the irritation of the
mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes.

The no observable adverse effects level (NOAEL) and lowest observable
adverse effects level (LOAEL) for this outcome are
615 and 1,230 ug/m3, respectively.

Epidemiological studies on the effects of chronic formaldehyde
exposure consistently found respiratory and allergic effects at levels
below 123 ug/m3.

In one study, formaldehyde levels in homes were associated with increased
risk of atopy, after ruling out confounding from
other indoor air pollutants.

In another study, formaldehyde levels were significantly associated
with hospitalization for asthma in children
aged six months to three years, again after ruling out confounding from
other indoor air pollutants.

No effects were found in children exposed
to 10 to 29 ug/m3 and 30 to 49 ug/m3 formaldehyde,
a non-significant increase of risk was observed at 50 to 59 ug/m3
and a significantly increased risk was observed at 60>_ug/m3.

An association between low-level exposure to formaldehyde and the
development of allergic sensitization and/or asthma is biologically
plausible as it is consistent with observations in animals.

There is evidence from toxicological and epidemiological studies that
inhaled formaldehyde is carcinogenic.
However, formaldehyde-induced carcinogenicity appears to be a
consequence of proliferative regeneration following cytotoxicity,
and the risk of cancer associated with formaldehyde levels sufficiently
low to prevent irritation and inflammatory responses
appears therefore to be negligible.

The following guidelines are therefore proposed for formaldehyde:
* a guideline for short-term (1-hour averaged) exposure
at 123 ug/m3 (100 ppb); and
* a guideline for long-term (8-hours averaged)
at 50 ug/m3 (40 ppb).
*******************************************************


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1349
NIH NLM ToxNet HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank
inadaquate re aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid):
Murray 2006.06.01

"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority,
to actively find, quickly share, and positively 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 71 members, 1,353 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com


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 [ Canadian research group ]


http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~HwoSfJ:1
HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank: Aspartame

ASPARTAME CASRN: 22839-47-0
METHANOL CASRN: 67-56-1
FORMALDEHYDE CASRN: 50-00-0
FORMIC ACID CASRN: 64-18-6

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 2006.05.24

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.

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/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).

Pharmacol Toxicol. 1987 Mar; 60(3): 217-20.
Elimination half-life of methanol during hangover.
Jones AW.
Department of Forensic Toxicology, University Hospital,
SE-581 85 Linkoping, Sweden. wayne.jones@...

This paper reports the elimination half-life of methanol
in human volunteers.
Experiments were made during the morning after the subjects had
consumed 1000-1500 ml red wine
(9.5% w/v ethanol, 100 mg/l methanol) the
previous evening. [ 100 to 150 mg methanol ]
The washout of methanol from the body coincided
with the onset of hangover.
The concentrations of ethanol and methanol in blood were determined
indirectly by analysis of end-expired alveolar air.
In the morning when blood-ethanol dropped below the Km of liver
alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) of about 100 mg/l (2.2 mM),
the disappearance half-life of ethanol
was 21, 22, 18 and 15 min. in 4 test subjects respectively.
The corresponding elimination half-lives of methanol
were 213, 110, 133 and 142 min. in these same individuals.
The experimental design outlined in this paper can be used to obtain
useful data on elimination kinetics of methanol
in human volunteers without undue ethical limitations.
Circumstantial evidence is presented to link methanol or its toxic
metabolic products, formaldehyde and formic acid,
with the pathogenesis of hangover. PMID: 3588516


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1286
methanol products (formaldehyde and formic acid) are main cause of
alcohol hangover symptoms [same as from similar amounts of
methanol, the 11% part of aspartame]: YS Woo et al, 2005 Dec:
Murray 2006.01.20

Addict Biol. 2005 Dec;10(4): 351-5.
Concentration changes of methanol in blood samples during
an experimentally induced alcohol hangover state.
Woo YS, Yoon SJ, Lee HK, Lee CU, Chae JH, Lee CT, Kim DJ.
Chuncheon National Hospital, Department of Psychiatry,
The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
http://www.cuk.ac.kr/eng/ sysop@...
Songsin Campus: 02-740-9714 Songsim Campus: 02-2164-4116
Songeui Campus: 02-2164-4114
http://www.cuk.ac.kr/eng/sub055.htm eight hospitals

[ Han-Kyu Lee ]

A hangover is characterized by the unpleasant physical and mental
symptoms that occur between 8 and 16 hours after drinking alcohol.
After inducing experimental hangover in normal individuals,
we measured the methanol concentration prior to
and after alcohol consumption
and we assessed the association between the hangover condition
and the blood methanol level.

A total of 18 normal adult males participated in this study.
They did not have any previous histories of psychiatric
or medical disorders.

The blood ethanol concentration prior to the alcohol intake
(2.26+/-2.08) was not significantly different from that
13 hours after the alcohol consumption (3.12+/-2.38).

However, the difference of methanol concentration
between the day of experiment (prior to the alcohol intake)
and the next day (13 hours after the alcohol intake)
was significant (2.62+/-1.33/l vs. 3.88+/-2.10/l, respectively).

[ So, the normal methanol level was 2.62 mg per liter,
and increasing that by 50% = 1.3 mg per liter to 3.88 mg per liter
caused hangover symptoms. The human body has about
5.6 liters blood, so adding 1.3 mg per liter gives an estimate
of 7.3 mg added methanol, as much as 4 oz diet soda.

Diet soda is about 200 mg aspartame per 12 oz can,
which is 22 mg (11% methanol), 1.83 mg methnol per ounce.

This suggests that alcohol drinkers are more sensitive to methanol
than the average diet soda drinker, some of whom find symptoms
from a third of a diet soda.]

A significant positive correlation was observed
between the changes of blood methanol concentration
and hangover subjective scale score increment when covarying
for the changes of blood ethanol level (r=0.498, p<0.05).

This result suggests the possible correlation of methanol
as well as its toxic metabolite to hangover. PMID: 16318957
[ The "toxic metabolite" of methanol is formaldehyde, which in turn
partially becomes formic acid -- both potent cumulative toxins
that are the actual cause of the toxicity of methanol.]

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)."

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.


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/1329
aspartame or MSG affects circadian rhythms in rats, two studies,
P. Subramanian, T. Manivasagam et al 2004:
Murray 2006.04.27

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/915
formaldehyde toxicity: Thrasher & Kilburn: Shaham: EPA: Gold:
Wilson: CIIN: Murray 2002.12.12 rmforall

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://www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_1990.html full text
Jack Dwayne Thrasher, Alan Broughton, Roberta Madison.
Immune activation and autoantibodies in humans with long-term
inhalation exposure to formaldehyde.
Archives of Environmental Health. 1990; 45: 217-223.
"Immune activation, autoantibodies, and anti-HCHO-HSA antibodies
are associated with long-term formaldehyde inhalation."
PMID: 2400243
*******************************************************