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In both the US and the UK, regulating bodies on food safety discovered that some soft drinks contain cancer-causing benzene at levels above the limit considered safe for drinking water.
In tests conducted by FSA (Food Standards Agency) of the UK on 230 samples of soft drinks, the benzene levels in some of them were found at more than 8 times the safety limit allowed. A different study by FDA (Food & Drug Administration) of the US found benzene at four times the tap water limit, on average, in 19 of 24 samples of diet soda (source).
| Why soft drinks contain cancer-causing benzene |
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| Many soft drinks contain Vitamin C and the preservative of sodium or potassium benzoate as ingredients. Under certain circumstances, these two ingredients react and form benzene. Heat, light and shelf life can affect whether benzene will be formed. Therefore soft drink samples of a particular brand may be tested positive for benzene while other batches of it may not contain any of it. |
| What is benzene |
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Benzene is a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia, and cancer in the lung, skin, liver and intestines etc. It can be absorbed by human bodies through the lung, direct skin contact, and the gastro-intestinal tract. Benzene is widely used in industrial production to make plastics, rubber, detergents, drugs and pesticides. Benzene can be formed naturally and is found in forest fires, gasoline (hence car exhaust) and cigarette smoke. |
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| The exact conditions under which benzene is formed in soft drinks are not fully known. Authorities are trying to understand how benzene is formed in soft drinks and to ensure the soft drink industry is doing everything to avoid those circumstances. |
| Other bad effects of soft drinks |
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| Besides potentially cancer-causing, soft drinks have many other bad effects. Soft drink is one of the leading causes of obesity due to its high sugar content. It also leads to excessive tooth decay due to its high acidity. The carbon dioxide content in it may make one feel drowsy or sleepy after consumption. Therefore it is advisable to replace soft drinks with other more healthy choices such as fruit juice or vegetable juice. |
| Related Article: Sugary soft drinks are linked to mental problems and pancreatic cancer. High cola intake causes weaker bones in women. |
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