Danger In Your Grocery Cart 2: What are BHA, BHT, and TBHQ?

Have you looked at the pepperoni ingredient label or check the ingredients of your lipstick lately? You will find BHA, BHT, and TBHQ.
What are BHA, BHT, and TBHQ?  They are benzoate preservatives.  Butylated HydroxyAnisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene are petroleum-derived antioxidants.  You will find these ingredients in beer, crackers, cereals, butter, baked and snack foods, meats, dehydrated potatoes, and cosmetic products.

According to the study of toxicology of the synthetic antioxidants BHA and BHT,  "Specific toxic effects to the lung have only been observed with BHT. The other described toxic effects of BHA and BHT are less characteristic and often occur only after high dosage and long-term treatment. However, BHA induces in animals tumours of the forestomach, which are dose dependent, whereas BHT induces liver tumours in long-term experiments. Because there is no indication of genotoxicity of BHA and BHT, all published findings agree with the fact that BHA and BHT are tumour promoters."  PMID: 8493816 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8493816
You will also find these ingredients in your cosmetic products like lipsticks or body lotions as well.  According to the further studies, "BHA and BHT can induce allergic reactions in the skin. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies BHA as a possible human carcinogen. The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has also listed BHA as a Category 1 priority substance, based on evidence that it interferes with hormone function.  Long-term exposure to high doses of BHT is toxic in mice and rats, causing liver, thyroid and kidney problems and affecting lung function and blood coagulation. BHT can act as a tumour promoter in certain situations. Limited evidence suggests that high doses of BHT may mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, and prevent expression of male sex hormones, resulting in adverse reproductive affects."  http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-your-cosmetics---bha-and-bhti/index.php

Read labels of any products you use for your inside and outside of your body.  Education is the key to the healthier you.