second large Ramazzini study on low dose lifetime aspartame in rats confirms carcinogenicity — Morando Soffritti will give data and get Selikoff award April 23 at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC: Murray 2007.04.24
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1415

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2007/04/17/new_study_by_ramazzini_institute_confirms_aspartame_carcinogenic.htm

Sepp Hasslberger [ photo ]

Contact information:

Josef Hasslberger
Via San Damaso 23/A
00165 Rome - ITALY
phone: +3906 635884 e-mail sepp#lastrega.com

Networking For A Better Future - News and perspectives you may not find in the media

April 17, 2007

New Study by Ramazzini Institute Confirms Aspartame Carcinogenic

Dr. Morando Soffritti of the European Ramazzini Foundation will present the results of a new study confirming the carcinogenicity of Aspartame on April 23, 2007 at the Mount Sinai Medical School of New York, where he also will receive the prestigious Irving J. Selikoff Award.

Aspartame, the artificial sweetener made by Searle/Monsanto was found to cause cancer in laboratory animals already in the original studies that were submitted to the FDA when approval was asked to put it on the market. The justified doubts of the FDA’s scientists were overridden when Donald Rumsfeld called in his political markers.

Another study conducted in Spain by Trocho et al came to similar results, identifying a transformation of parts of the molecule into formaldehyde as a probable cause. Later, a study of the European Ramazzini Foundation confirmed the sweetener’s carcinogenicity in laboratory rats and seriously questioned its safety. But industry, through the European Food Safety Authority, succeeded in diverting attention from the damaging findings, calling them an artifact of the study’s design.

Now, a new, long-term study on Aspartame has been completed giving lower dosages but confirming, once again, the carcinogenicity of the sweetener. See the announcement from the Ramazzini Foundation here:

New aspartame data to be presented at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC, USA

A second study conducted by the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) confirms the carcinogenicity of aspartame. The results of this study will be presented April 23, 2007 at the Mount Sinai Medical School of New York, where ERF Scientific Director Morando Soffritti will receive the third Irving J. Selikoff Award.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener consumed by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It is used in over 6,000 diet products including soft drinks, chewing gum, candy, desserts, yogurt as well as in pharmaceuticals, in particular, syrups and antibiotics for children. In 2005, the European Ramazzini Foundation published important experimental data demonstrating the carcinogenicity of aspartame. These data demonstrated for the first time that aspartame is a carcinogenic agent, inducing various types of malignant tumors in rats, even at dose levels currently considered acceptable for humans.

As soon as carcinogenic effects were perceived during this first study, the ERF began a second long term experiment, administering aspartame at low doses in feed to rats beginning during fetal life.

In a world exclusive, Italian news station TG2 announced on April 13th that the European Ramazzini Foundation will present the results of this second study at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine at the end of April when Scientific Director Dr. Morando Soffritti will receive the third Irving J. Selikoff Award. The news story may be viewed at: http://www.raiclicktv.it/raiclickpc/secure/list_content_tg.srv?id=1986#

http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/newsDetail.asp?id=15

news archive|archivio notizie

overview/sommario

April 13, 2007
New aspartame data to be presented at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC, USA

A second study conducted by the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) confirms the carcinogenicity of aspartame. The results of this study will be presented April 23, 2007 at the Mount Sinai Medical School of New York, where ERF Scientific Director Morando Soffritti will receive the third Irving J. Selikoff Award. [vedi testo completo per l’italiano]

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener consumed by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It is used in over 6,000 diet products including soft drinks, chewing gum, candy, desserts, yogurt as well as in pharmaceuticals, in particular, syrups and antibiotics for children. In 2005, the European Ramazzini Foundation published important experimental data demonstrating the carcinogenicity of aspartame. These data demonstrated for the first time that aspartame is a carcinogenic agent, inducing various types of malignant tumors in rats, even at dose levels currently considered acceptable for humans.

IT: Il secondo studio sull’aspartame della Fondazione Europea Ramazzini (FER) conferma la cancerogenicità dell’aspartame. I risultati saranno presentati il 23 aprile a New York, al Mount Sinai Medical School.

L’aspartame è un dolcificante artificiale consumato nel mondo da oltre 200 milioni di persone. E’ utilizzato in oltre 6.000 prodotti, fra i quali bevande light, gomme da masticare, dolciumi, caramelle, yogurt, farmaci, in particolare sciroppi e antibiotici per bambini. Nel 2005, la Fondazione Europea Ramazzini ha pubblicato importanti dati sperimentali che dimostravano la cancerogenicità dell’aspartame. Venne dimostrato sperimentalmente per la prima volta che l’aspartame è un agente cancerogeno in grado di indurre vari tipi di tumori maligni, anche a dosi tutt’oggi ammesse per l’alimentazione umana.

Fin dal momento della percezione della cancerogencità dell’aspartame, la FER avviò un secondo studio, somministrando aspartame a basse dosi nel cibo ai ratti a partire della vita fetale.

In anteprima mondiale un servizio del TG2 ha anticipato che la Fondazione Europea Ramazzini presenterà i risultati del secondo studio nei prossimi giorni a New York, al Mount Sinai Medical School of Medicine, dove il Direttore Scientifico Dottor Soffritti riceverà il Premio Selikoff per i suoi studi sull’aspartame.

http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/publications.asp free full texts of most research

http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/newsDetail.asp?id=12

April 05, 2007
ERF announces launch of dynamic web portal: raw data from long term carcinogenesis studies now available for download

On 5 April 2007 the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) launched its new dynamic, bi-lingual web portal at http://www.ramazzini.it. For the first time, users may now download raw study data from selected long term carcinogenicity bioassays conducted at the ERF’s Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of Bentivoglio (Bologna). [Vedi testo completo per l’italiano]

The principle objective of this initiative is to make Ramazzini raw data from published studies available for use by the greater scientific community for the conduct of risk assessments and additional research. Two reports detailing 1) neoplasms by individual animal and 2) statistical analysis of primary tumors, may be downloaded free of charge in .pdf or .xml format for experiments on selected compounds including aspartame, methanol, MTBE and TAME.

In addition, the new web portal includes a searchable index of the last ten years of the Foundation’s scientific publications with the option to download the full text of most articles in pdf. Users are also able to consult recent national and international press, submit CVs for job openings, and make online donations to the Foundation using major credit cards.

In an effort to facilitate the European Ramazzini Foundation’s dialogue with the public, a weekly blog entry will address current issues in environmental science and public health. Blog readers are invited to comment on the weekly topic, ask questions to the Scientific Direction, and suggest topics for future blog postings.

The Ramazzini portal, which also links to the National Ramazzini Institute and the Collegium Ramazzini, is uniquely bi-lingual, with all content available side-by-side in Italian and English. The site was designed by Kate Havran and developed by Nowhere s.r.l. under the project direction of Kathryn Knowles of ERF.

IT: Il 5 aprile 2007 la Fondazione Europea Ramazzini (FER) ha lanciato il nuovo e dinamico portale web bilingue su http://www.ramazzini.it. Gli utenti, per la prima volta, potranno scaricare i dati grezzi sperimentali estrapolati da saggi di cancerogenesi a lungo termine, condotti al Centro di Ricerca sul Cancro Cesare Maltoni (CRCCM) di Bentivoglio (Bologna).

Il principale obiettivo di questa iniziativa è rendere disponibili i dati grezzi di studi pubblicati alla comunità scientifica, per permettere loro di condurre analisi sui rischi e ulteriori ricerche. Due report, che contengono dati su: 1) tumori benigni e maligni per animale; e 2) analisi statistica dei tumori primari benigni e maligni, sono disponibili gratuitamente in formato .pdf o .xml per esperimenti su composti stabiliti tra i quali aspartame, metanolo, MTBE e TAME.

Inoltre, il nuovo portale web include un indice per la ricerca delle pubblicazioni della Fondazione degli ultimi dieci anni, con la possibilità di scaricare i testi integrali della maggior parte degli articoli in formato .pdf. Gli utenti hanno altresì la possibilità di consultare la stampa recente, sia nazionale che internazionale, inviare CV per proporre la propria candidatura ed effettuare donazioni alla Fondazione utilizzando le carte di credito più diffuse.

Allo scopo di facilitare il dialogo tra la Fondazione Europea Ramazzini e il pubblico, uno speciale blog d’entrata, ogni settimana, sarà dedicato alle attuali problematiche in tema di scienze ambientali e salute pubblica. Ai lettori del blog sarà richiesto un commento sull’argomento della settimana, mentre la Direzione Scientifica si renderà disponibile a rispondere alle domande e accetterà proposte sulle tematiche da presentare sui futuri blog.

Il portale Ramazzini, che comprende anche l’Istituto Nazionale Ramazzini e il Collegium Ramazzini, è interamente bilingue, con tutti i contenuti disponibili sia in italiano che in inglese. Il sito è stato progettato da Kate Havran e sviluppato da Nowhere s.r.l. , sotto la direzione di progetto di Kathryn Knowles della FER.

http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/research.asp

method

The Ramazzini methodology is characterized by systematic and integrated project design, consistency over time, and homogeneity of approach. Agents are selected for study on the basis of their potential diffusion and on the adequacy of existing experimental evidence.
The Ramazzini study design closely mirrors the human condition in which persons may be exposed to agents in all phases of life for varying lengths of time. A distinctive characteristic of Ramazzini carcinogenicity studies is that all rodents are kept under observation until natural death. This lifespan protocol is in contrast with most laboratories where rodents are sacrificed at 110 weeks of age (representing about 2/3 of the lifespan). Cancer is a disease which predominately affects the aging, with 80% of tumors diagnosed in humans over the age of 55. It is therefore of paramount importance to observe how an agent affects laboratory animals in the last third of their lives. One of the challenges in industrial and environmental carcinogenesis today is the highly complex identification and quantification of diffused carcinogenic risks. Diffused carcinogenic risks are those to which almost the entire population of the planet may be exposed. They include agents which are slightly car

cinogenic at any dose, low or extremely low doses of carcinogenic agents of any kind, or mixtures of small doses of carcinogenic agents.
In the case of diffused carcinogenic risks, it is not sufficient to follow the standard protocol used in ordinary experiments, but rather it is necessary to conduct what we define as “mega-experiments.” Mega-experiments are those in which a vast number of rodents per sex/per group are used in order to highlight the significance of differences, even very small ones, in the variability of response. In these experiments, rodents are exposed to agents in all phases of development and observed for the lifespan to allow the agent to express its full carcinogenic potential.

metodo

Il metodo Ramazzini è caratterizzato da un disegno sperimentale sistematico e integrato, dalla consistenza della metodologia nel tempo, e dall’omogeneità dell’approccio. Gli agenti sono selezionati sulla base della loro diffusione e sulla adeguatezza dell’evidenza sperimentale esistente.
Il disegno sperimentale Ramazzini cerca di riprodurre in laboratorio la condizione umana, dove gli individui possono essere esposti in tutte le fasi della loro vita, e per una durata variabile. Una caratteristica distintiva degli studi di cancerogenesi condotti nei laboratori Ramazzini è che i roditori vengono tenuti sotto osservazione fino alla morte naturale. Questo protocollo si differenzia da quelli adottati dalla maggior parte dei laboratori, in cui i roditori vengono sacrificati a 110 settimane di età (circa 2/3 dell’arco di vita). Il cancro è una malattia che colpisce soprattutto gli anziani, con l’80% dei tumori diagnosticati nelle persone oltre i 55 anni. È quindi di fondamentale importanza osservare gli eventuali effetti dell’agente studiato anche durante l’ultimo terzo della vita degli animali.
Fra le sfide più complesse di oggi nell’ambito della cancerogenesi ambientale e industriale vi sono l’identificazione e la quantificazione dei rischi cancerogeni diffusi, ai quali può essere esposta quasi tutta la popolazione del pianeta. Questi rischi includono sia agenti cancerogeni deboli a qualsiasi dose, sia dosi basse o estremamente basse di agenti cancerogeni anche forti, oppure miscele di bassissime dosi di agenti cancerogeni.
Nel caso di rischi diffusi, non è sufficiente seguire il protocollo utilizzato negli esperimenti ordinari, ma è invece necessario condurre quelli che chiamiamo “mega-esperimenti”. I mega-experimenti utilizzano un numero molto elevato di roditori per sesso/per gruppo e sono per questo in grado di mettere in evidenza la significatività di differenze anche piccole nella variabilità della risposta. I roditori vengono esposti in tutte le diverse fasi dello sviluppo e vengono osservati fino alla morte naturale, così da mettere in evidenza il potenziale cancerogeno totale dell’agente studiato.

http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/pdfUpload/Environ%20Health%20Perspect%20115%20A2-A6_2007.pdf

A 4 VOLUME 115 | NUMBER 1 | January 2007 • Environmental Health Perspectives

Correspondence

Aspartame Not Linked to Cancer

In an article published in the March 2006
issue of Environmental Health Perspectives
(EHP) Soffritti et al. (2006) of the European
Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and
Environmental Sciences (ERF) reported that
aspartame was associated with an increase in
lymphomas and leukemias, transitional cell
carcinomas of the renal pelvis and urether,
malignant schwanomas of peripheral nerves,
and hyperplasia of the olfactory epithelium.

After the publication of the ERF aspartame
study (Soffritti et al. 2006), the
European Commission asked the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to assess the
ERF aspartame carcinogenicity study
results as a matter of high priority following
the publication (EFSA 2005).

The EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Food Additives,
Flavorings, Processing Aids and Materials in
Contact with Food (AFC), an 18-member
panel that consisted of independent regulatory
scientists and toxicologists, assessed the
ERF aspartame carcinogenicity study using
not only the ERF publication but also more
extensive primary data and reports provided
by ERF (EFSA 2006).

Concurrently, the
U.K. Food Standards Agency requested
the opinion of the U.K. Committee on
Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food,
Consumer Products and Environment
(COC) on the quality, analysis, and interpretation
of the results of the ERF aspartame
carcinogenicity study (Soffritti et al. 2006).

After a lengthy evaluation process, on
5 May 2006, the EFSA published a 44-page
report (EFSA 2006). A summary comment
of the EFSA report on ERF study included
the following:

The increased incidence of lymphomas/leukaemias
reported in treated rats was unrelated to aspartame,
given the high background incidence of chronic
inflammatory changes in the lungs and the lack of
a positive dose–response relationship. … The
slight increase in incidence of these tumours in rats
fed aspartame is considered to be an incidental
finding of the ERF study and can therefore be dismissed.
(EFSA 2006)

The preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the
renal pelvis, ureter and bladder occurring primarily
in female rats along with renal calcification were
most probably treatment-related, at least at the
higher doses. It is widely accepted that the effect is
a high dose effect of irritant chemicals or chemicals
producing renal pelvic calcification as a result of
imbalances in calcium metabolism, specific to the
rat. The Panel considers that these effects are of no
relevance for humans. (EFSA 2006)

The data on total malignant tumours do not provide
evidence of a carcinogenic potential of aspartame.

… [T]he aggregation of all malignant
tumour incidences or all malignant tumour-bearing
animals for statistical purposes is not justified,
given that, as explained above, the lymphomas/
leukaemias and the renal tumours should have
been excluded from the analysis. (EFSA 2006)

Concerning the malignant schwannomas, … the
numbers of tumours were low, the dose–response
relationship, while showing a positive statistical
trend in males, was very flat over a wide dose
range and there is also uncertainty about the diagnosis
of these tumours. … [T]his finding can only
be fully evaluated following a histopathological
peer-review of all relevant slides related to the nervous
system in the ERF study and if necessary also
from the historical controls. (EFSA 2006)

Furthermore, the COC’s March 2006
minutes on the publication of the ERF aspartame
study (Soffritti et al. 2006) concluded,

… [I]n view of the problems in the design of the
study and some concerns about the microbiological
status of the colony, it was not possible to
draw conclusions about the potential carcinogenicity
of aspartame from the results.

The study by Soffritti et al. (2006) has
major flaws that bring into question the
validity of the findings. Its publication in
EHP is not without consequence to the
reputation of the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences or to the
health of the U.S. public. Publication of
invalid and misleading research results relating
to products such as aspartame, which can
be of benefit in the battle against obesity and
have a history of safe use, are a disservice to
the tax-paying citizens of the United States.

The author is employed by Ajinomoto USA,
which sells aspartame.

Eyassu G. Abegaz
Aginomoto Corporate Services LLC
Washington, DC
E-mail: abegaze@ajiusa.com

REFERENCES

COC. 2006. Minutes of the Meeting Held at 10.30am on
Thursday 2 March 2006, Item 5: Ramazzini Study on the
Carcinogenicity of Aspartame (CC/06/6). London:
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food,
Consumer Products and Environment. Available:
http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/wpmin020306.pdf
[accessed 17 May 2006].

EFSA. 2005. EFSA Urges the Ramazzini Institute to Release Data
on Aspartame. Available:
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press_room/press_release/2005/1228.html
[accessed 17 May 2006].

EFSA. 2006. Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC Related to a
New Long-term Carcinogenicity Study on Aspartame.
Parma, Italy:European Food Safety Authority. Available:
http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_opinions/1471_en.html
[accessed 17 May 2006].

Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Esposti DD, Lambertini L, Tibaldi E,
Rigano A. 2006. First experimental demonstration of the
multipotential carcinogenic effects of aspartame administered
in the feed of Sprague-Dawley rats.
Environ Health Perspect 114:379–385.

Aspartame: Soffritti Responds

As communicated in his letter, Abegaz represents
Ajinomoto Corporate Services LLC.

Ajinomoto, which holds 45% of the market
share for worldwide aspartame production
(Ajinomoto 2006), is well known for its
aggressive and effective defense of its commercial
interests.

The action by Abegaz to
reproduce portions of the opinion issued by
the European Food Safety Authority (2006)
regarding the results of our long-term carcinogenesis
bioassay on aspartame (Soffritti
et al. 2006) is clearly specious.

The author declares he has no competing
financial interests.

Morando Soffritti
European Foundation of Oncology and
Environmental Sciences “B. Ramazzini”
Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center
Bologna, Italy
E-mail: crcfr@ramazzini.it

REFERENCES

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. 2006. First Quarter-FY2006 Market and
Other Information. Available:
http://www.ajinomoto.com/ar/i_r/pdf/Q1-2006data_E.pdf
[accessed 29 September 2006].

European Food Safety Authority. 2006. Opinion of the Scientific
Panel AFC Related to a New Long-term Carcinogenicity
Study on Aspartame. Parma, Italy:European Food Safety
Authority. Available:
http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_opinions/1471_en.html
[accessed 29 September 2006].

Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Esposti DD, Lambertini L, Tibaldi E,
Rigano A. 2006. First experimental demonstration of the
multipotential carcinogenic effects of aspartame administered
in the feed of Sprague-Dawley rats.
Environ Health Perspect 114:379–385.

http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/blogDetail.asp?id=18

Blog in Italian

April 13, 2007
New aspartame data to be presented at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC, USA
A second study conducted by the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) confirms the carcinogenicity of aspartame. The results of this study will be presented April 23, 2007 at the Mount Sinai Medical School of New York, where ERF Scientific Director Morando Soffritti will receive the third Irving J. Selikoff Award. [vedi testo completo per l’italiano]

archive/archivio

Servizio sulla cancerogenicità dell’Aspartame, Tg2 - 13 aprile 2007

Dialogue with the public

How to distort the scientific record without actually lying

http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/foundation.asp

the mission

The European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences “B. Ramazzini” is an independent, non-profit foundation, dedicated to the prevention of cancer for more than 35 years. Our mission is to undertake initiatives aimed at the prevention of tumors via a strategy based on scientific research, the training of specialized personnel, and the diffusion of information on environmental and industrial carcinogenic risks. The activities of the Foundation focus primarily on the experimental identification and quantification of carcinogenic risks and on the evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of drug therapies and active ingredients that may be used to prevent the development and/or progression of cancer.
The Foundation’s facilities include the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center (CMCRC) in Bentivoglio (Bologna, Italy), where one of the world’s largest and longest existing programs of carcinogenicity bioassays is conducted, and an Epidemiological Research Center. Currently, the Foundation is conducting long term experimental studies to detect the potential carcinogenic effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields generated from electrical currents and from the radio-base stations of cellular telephones. Also underway is a large integrated program of studies to better quantify the carcinogenic risks of artificial sweeteners.

la finalità

La Fondazione Europea di Oncologia e Scienze Ambientali “B. Ramazzini” è un ente no profit, impegnato da oltre 35 anni nella prevenzione del cancro. La nostra mission è l’attuazione di iniziative per la prevenzione dei tumori attraverso una strategia basata sulla ricerca scientifica, la formazione di personale specializzato e la diffusione di informazioni sui rischi cancerogeni ambientali e professionali. Le attività della Fondazione sono finalizzate soprattutto alla identificazione e quantificazione, su base sperimentale, dei rischi cancerogeni, oltre che alla valutazione di efficacia e tollerabilità di farmaci e principi attivi, utilizzabili per la prevenzione dell’insorgenza e/o progressione del cancro.
I presidi della Fondazione Europea Ramazzini sono costituiti dal Centro di Ricerca sul Cancro Cesare Maltoni (CRCCM) di Bentivoglio, in provincia di Bologna, dove viene condotto un programma di saggi di cancerogenicità a lungo termine che rappresenta uno dei maggiori al mondo sia per dimensioni che per durata, e un Centro di Ricerche Epidemiologiche. Attualmente la Fondazione è fortemente impegnata nella conduzione di studi di cancerogenicità sui campi elettromagnetici generati dalla corrente elettrica e dalla telefonia mobile, oltre che di studi sperimentali per meglio quantificare la cancerogenicità dei dolcificanti artificiali.

contact|contattaci

Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center/Centro di Ricerca sul Cancro Cesare Maltoni
Via Saliceto, 3
40010 Bentivoglio (Bologna) Italy
Tel +39 051.6640460 Fax +39 051.6640223

Scientific Direction/Direzione Scientifica

Resource Development and Press Relations/Sviluppo Risorse e Ufficio Stampa
development@ramazzini.it

Epidemiological Research Center/Centro di Ricerche Epidemiologiche
crcre@ramazzini.it

Administration/Sede Legale e Amministrativa
Via Guerrazzi, 18
40125 Bologna Italy
Tel +39 051.237286 Fax +39 051.2911679 fondazione@ramazzini.it

© Copyright 2007 ramazzini.it. All rights reserved.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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/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,
http://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 2005.09.03

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/1016
President Bush & formaldehyde (aspartame) toxicity:
Ramazzini Foundation carcinogenicity results Dec 2002:
Soffritti: Murray 2003.08.03 rmforall

p. 88 “The sweetening agent aspartame hydrolyzes in the
gastrointestinal tract to become free methyl alcohol,
which is metabolized in the liver
to formaldehyde, formic acid, and CO2. (11)”
Medinsky MA & Dorman DC. 1994; Assessing risks of low-level
methanol exposure. CIIT Act. 14: 1-7.

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 87-105.
Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Lambertin L,
Lauriola M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology
and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. crcfr@ramazzini.it

Formaldehyde was administered for 104 weeks in drinking water
supplied ad libitum at concentrations of
1500, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, or 0 mg/L
to groups of 50 male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at
seven weeks of age.
Control animals (100 males and 100 females) received tap water only.
Acetaldehyde was administered to 50 male and 50 female
Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at six weeks of age at concentrations of
2,500, 1,500, 500, 250, 50, or 0 mg/L.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were found to produce an increase
in total malignant tumors in the treated groups
and showed specific carcinogenic effects on various organs and tissues.
PMID: 12562630

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 46-69.
Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Cevolani D,
Guarino M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology
and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. crcfr@ramazzini.it

Methyl alcohol was administered in drinking water
supplied ad libitum at doses of
20,000, 5,000, 500, or 0 ppm to groups of male and female
Sprague-Dawley rats 8 weeks old at the start of the experiment.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Ethyl alcohol was administered by ingestion in drinking water at a
concentration of 10% or 0% supplied ad libitum to groups of male and
female Sprague-Dawley rats; breeders and offspring were included in
the experiment.
Treatment started at 39 weeks of age (breeders), 7 days before mating,
or from embryo life (offspring)
and lasted until their spontaneous death.
Under tested experimental conditions, methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol
were demonstrated to be carcinogenic for various organs and tissues.
They must also be considered multipotential carcinogenic agents.
In addition to causing other tumors, ethyl alcohol induced malignant
tumors of the oral cavity, tongue, and lips.
These sites have been shown to be target organs in man by
epidemiologic studies.
Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial PMID: 12562628

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1339
Obfuscation of the iatrogenic autism epidemic re mercury in kid
vaccines, Kenneth P. Stoller, Pediatrics 2006.05.06;
aspartame toxicity 2005.11.10: Comet assay can test genotoxicity,
EFSA admits ignorance re methanol residues, Murray 2006.05.10

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1335
Morando Soffritti of Ramazzini Foundation rebuts EFSA AFC critique,
http://www.laleva.org: Murray 2006.05.05

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1334
European Food Safety Authority discounts Ramazzini study re many
cancers in 1800 rats fed lifetime doses of aspartame:
Calorie Control Council press release: Murray 2006.05.05

http://www.efsa.eu.int/press_room/press_release/1472_en.html

http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_opinions/1471_en.html

http://www.efsa.eu.int/press_room/media_events/catindex_en.html

http://www.flyonthewall.com/FlyBroadcast/efsa.eu.int/AspartamePressConference/

http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_opinions/1471/afc_op_ej356_aspartame_en1.\pdf

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1338
Aspartame: The healthy option? Richard A. Lovett, The New Scientist
2006.05.04: Murray 2006.05.08

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:
sucralose: Prof. DL Katz: 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
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) toxicity research summary: Rich Murray 2007.04.24
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1404

One liter aspartame diet soda, about 3 12-oz cans,
gives 61.5 mg methanol,
so if 30% is turned into formaldehyde, the formaldehyde
dose of 18.5 mg is 37 times the recent EPA limit of
0.5 mg per liter daily drinking water for a 10-kg child:
http://www.epa.gov/teach/chem_summ/Formaldehyde_summary.pdf
2007.01.05 [ does not discuss formaldehyde from methanol
or aspartame ]
http://www.epa.gov/teach/teachsurvey.html comments
teach@environmentalhealthconsulting.com

“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@comcast.net
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 74 members, 1,416 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1340
aspartame groups and books: updated research review of
2004.07.16: Murray 2006.05.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1395
Aspartame Controversy, in Wikipedia democratic
encyclopedia, 72 references (including AspartameNM # 864
and 1173 by Murray), brief fair summary of much more
research: Murray 2007.01.01

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/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

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

“According to model predictions, congruent with the data in the
literature [Dorman et al., 1994; Horton et al., 1992], a certain
fraction of formaldehyde is readily oxidized to formate,
a major fraction of which is rapidly converted to CO2 and exhaled,
whereas a small fraction is excreted as formic acid in urine.

However, fits to the available data in rats and monkeys of Horton et
al. [1992] and Dorman et al. [1994] show that, once formed, a
substantial fraction of formaldehyde is converted to unobserved forms.

This pathway contributes to a long-term unobserved compartment.

The latter, most plausibly, represents either the formaldehyde that
[directly or after oxidation to formate] binds to various endogenous
molecules [Heck et al., 1983; Røe, 1982] or is incorporated in the
tetrahydrofolic-acid-dependent one-carbon pathway to become the
building block of a number of synthetic pathways
[Røe, 1982; Tephly and McMartin, 1984].

That substantial amounts of methanol metabolites or by-products are
retained for a long time is verified by Horton et al. [1992] who
estimated that 18 h following an iv injection of 100 mg/kg of
14C-methanol in male Fischer-344 rats,
only 57% of the dose was eliminated from the body.

>From the data of Dorman et al. [1994] and Medinsky et al. [1997],
it can further be calculated that 48 h following the start
of a 2-h inhalation exposure to 900 ppm of 14C-methanol vapors
in female cynomolgus monkeys,
only 23% of the absorbed 14C-methanol was eliminated from the body.

These findings are corroborated by the data of Heck et al. [1983]
showing that 40% of a 14C-formaldehyde inhalation dose remained
in the body 70 h postexposure.

In the present study, the model proposed rests on acute exposure
data, where the time profiles of methanol and its metabolites were
determined only over short time periods
[a maximum of 6 h of exposure and a maximum of 48 h postexposure].

This does not allow observation of the slow release from the long-term
components.

It is to be noted that most of the published studies on the detailed
disposition kinetics of methanol regard controlled short-term
[iv injection or continuous inhalation exposure over a few hours]
methanol exposures in rats, primates, and humans
[Batterman et al., 1998; Damian and Raabe, 1996;
Dorman et al., 1994; Ferry et al., 1980; Fisher et al., 2000;
Franzblau et al., 1995; Horton et al., 1992; Jacobsen et al., 1988;
Osterloh et al., 1996; Pollack et al., 1993; Sedivec et al., 1981;
Ward et al., 1995; Ward and Pollack, 1996].

Experimental studies on the detailed time profiles following
controlled repeated exposures to methanol are lacking.”

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1406
brain cell tangles and neuron death similar to Alzheimers
via low dose formaldehyde from methanol,
Chunlai Nie, Rongqiao He et al, China, 2007.01.23 BMC
Neuroscience 28 pages, 63 references: Murray 2007.01.24

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1385
Coca-Cola carcinogenicity in rats, Ramazzini Foundation,
F Belpoggi, M Soffritti, Annals NY Academy Sciences
2006 Sept, parts of 17 pages: Murray 2006.12.02

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1382
Fiorella Belpoggi & Morando Soffritti of Ramazzini
Foundation prove lifetime carcinogenicity of Coca-Cola,
aspartame, and arsenic, Annals of the NY Academy of
Sciences: Murray 2006.11.28

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1369
Bristol, Connecticut, schools join state program to limit
artificial sweeteners, sugar, fats for 8800 students,
Johnny J Burnham, The Bristol Press: Murray 2006.09.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1341
Connecticut bans artificial sweeteners in schools,
Nancy Barnes, New Milford Times: Murray 2006.05.25

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1376
soft drinks and adolescent hyperactivity, mental distress,
conduct problems, Lars Lien, Nanna Lien, Sonja Heyerdahl,
Mayne Thoresen, Espen Bjertness 2006 Oct., A J Pub Health:
Murray 2006.10.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1375
healthy diet, vitamins, and fish oil help reduce
depression and violence, studies by Joseph Hibbeln,
Bernard Gesch, and Stephen Schoenthaler, articles by
Felicity Lawrence in UK Guardian Unlimited and Pat
Thomas in The Ecologist: Murray 2006.10.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1353
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/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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1414
effect of aspartame on oncogene and suppressor gene expressions in
mice, Katalin Gambos, Istvan Ember, et al, University of Pecs,
Hungary, In Vivo 2007 Jan; scores of their relevant past studies since
1977: Murray 2007.04.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1366
toxicity in rat brains from aspartame, Vences-Mejia A,
Espinosa-Aguirre JJ et al 2006 Aug: Murray 2006.09.06

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1373
aspartame rat brain toxicity re cytochrome P450 enzymes,
especially CYP2E1, Vences-Mejia A, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ
et al, 2006 Aug, Hum Exp Toxicol: relevant abstracts re
formaldehyde from methanol in alcohol drinks:
Murray 2006.09.29

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/1277
50% UK baby food is now organic — aspartame or MSG
with food dyes harm nerve cells, CV Howard 3 year study
funded by Lizzy Vann, CEO, Organix Brands,
Children’s Food Advisory Service: Murray 2006.01.13

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/1349
NIH NLM ToxNet HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank
inadequate re aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde,
formic acid): Murray 2006.08.19

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/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

http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame mgold@holisticmed.com
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”

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/957
safety of aspartame Part 1/2 12.4.2: EC HCPD-G SCF:
Murray 2003.01.12 EU Scientific Committee on Food,
a whitewash

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://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/782
RTM: Smith, Terpening, Schmidt, Gums:
full text: aspartame, MSG, fibromyalgia 2002.01.17
Jerry D Smith, Chris M Terpening,
Siegfried OF Schmidt, and John G Gums
Relief of Fibromyalgia Symptoms Following
Discontinuation of Dietary Excitotoxins.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2001; 35(6): 702-706.
Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
Gainesville, FL, USA.
BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatologic
disorder that is often difficult to treat effectively.
CASE SUMMARY: Four patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia
syndrome for two to 17 years are described.
All had undergone multiple treatment modalities with
limited success.
All had complete, or nearly complete,
resolution of their symptoms within months after
eliminating monosodium glutamate (MSG)
or MSG plus aspartame from their diet.
All patients were women with multiple comorbidities
prior to elimination of MSG.
All have had recurrence of symptoms whenever MSG
is ingested.

Siegfried O. Schmidt, MD Asst. Clinical Prof.
siggy@shands.ufl.edu
Community Health and Family Medicine, U. Florida,
Gainesville, FL Shands Hospital West Oak Clinic
Gainesville, FL 32608-3629 352-376-5071
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/915
formaldehyde toxicity: Thrasher & Kilburn: Shaham: EPA:
Gold: Wilson: CIIN: Murray 2002.12.12

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@drthrasher.org
Sam-1 Trust, Alto, New Mexico, USA. full text
http://www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_embryo_toxicity.html

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.
PMID: 2400243
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////