many use 2 L, about 6 cans, of aspartame drinks daily, thus imbibing 123 mg methanol, 4 times the EPA RfD for daily ingestion: EPA IRIS Hotline: Murray 2006.12. 21

many use 2 L, about 6 cans, of aspartame drinks daily, thus imbibing
123 mg methanol, 4 times the EPA RfD for daily ingestion: EPA IRIS
Hotline: Murray 2006.12. 21
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1390

December 21, 2006 Dear EPA IRIS Hotline:

http://www.epa.gov/IRIS/subst/0305.htm Methanol (CASRN 67-56-1)

I. Chronic Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic Effects
I.A. Reference Dose for Chronic Oral Exposure (RfD)

Substance Name -- Methanol
CASRN -- 67-56-1
Last Revised -- 07/01/1993

In general, the RfD [ lifetime allowable daily oral reference dose ] is
an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude)
of a daily exposure to the human population (including sensitive
subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of
deleterious effects during a lifetime.

The RfD is given by the NOEL [ No Observed Effects Level in animals ],
divided by the usual safety factor of 1,000.

The animal test data was twenty years ago: Increased SAP and SGPT, and
decreased brain weight, in a U.S. EPA 1986 Rat Oral Subchronic Study,
leading to a NOEL of 500 mg/kg body weight/day.

"The principal study was well-designed and provided adequate
toxicological endpoints, but the method of administration was not
ideal.
The overall data base is weak, lacking data on reproductive,
developmental, or other toxicological endpoints.
The RfD is given a medium confidence rating because of the strengths of
the principal study."

"Please contact the IRIS Hotline for all questions concerning this
assessment or IRIS, in general,
at (202)566-1676 (phone), (202)566-1749 (FAX) or hotline.iris@epa.gov
(internet address)."

So, the human RfD has been set at 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day, which for
a 70 kg person is 35 mg daily.

Well-established, simple facts:

"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)."

"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."

I would appreciate a thoughtful response by a qualified EPA expert, in
view of the gravity of public hazard from the prevalence of chronic
exposure to methanol in common products worldwide.

Especially prominent as cumulative toxins of very well known potency
is the rapid metabolism of methanol in humans into formaldehyde and
formic acid.

Surely the urgency of adequate, thorough investigation and action to
protect health is obvious and undeniable.

Actually, much profound benefit can be achieved quickly with low
initial research and some resulting economic costs, which of course
will be more than balanced by reductions in medical costs and increases
in economic efficiency, resulting in more public tax revenue and
increased economic activity in the private sector.

Rather than animal studies, as an informed medical layman, I suggest
rapid, powerful, thorough, intensive studies on the symptoms,
biochemistry, and neurological measures of people who have had the
equivalent of 6 cans diet soda for years, with follow through for a
year after aspartame abstinence.

In terms of funding, perhaps the various industries involved would be
eager to support a fully open and transparent public initiative to
definitively settle a slowly increasing chronic controversy.

The liquor industry may find affordable ways of eliminating the roughly
one part in ten thousand methanol impurity.

Some investigations should be made as to whether low dose methanol can
incapacitate bacteria, viruses, and yeasts.

In mutual service, Rich Murray


short aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) toxicity research summary:
Murray 2006.12.21
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1379

"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 77 members, 1,390 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

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/1385

[ For related information and links:

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/1382

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1383 aspartame

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1384 arsenic ]


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/1376

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/1378
11 members of New Mexico legislature sign letter to ban aspartame as a
source of toxic methanol and formaldehyde, Stephen Fox, NM Senator
Gerald Ortiz y Pino: Murray 2006.10.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1374
47 UK Members of Parliament now support aspartame ban initiative of
Roger Williams, MP: Murray 2006.10.16

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/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, expecially
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/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/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/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

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/si...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/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.../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 rmforall EU Scientific Committee on Food,
a whitewash

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1045
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame...2-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/1371
Russell L. Blaylock, MD discusses MSG, aspartame, excitotoxins
with Mike Adams: Murray 2006.09.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1372
Mike Adams interviews Randall Fitzgerald on "The Hundred Year Lie:
How Food and Medicine are Destroying Your Health" 2006.06.21:
Murray 2006.09.28
************************************************** *****


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

Rich Murray wrote:

> many use 2 L, about 6 cans, of aspartame drinks daily,

Without going into details about which components in it are toxic it is
obviously foolish to drink that much chemists brew daily.


Peter Larsen

Peter Larsen wrote:
> Rich Murray wrote:
>
>> many use 2 L, about 6 cans, of aspartame drinks daily,
>
> Without going into details about which components in it are toxic it is
> obviously foolish to drink that much chemists brew daily.
>
>
> Peter Larsen

ANOTHER idiot Aspartame troll

Go back to Betty and tell her we STILL don't buy her crap
and
FUCK OFF
This is a discussion group for real, people not a hunting ground for
Stevia scammers

John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth in their Second Podcast
on April 19 2005 describe his use of 8-12 cans Diet Coke daily.

He went cold turkey about January 2005,
switching to Diet Sprite Zero,
which has 27% as much aspartame as Diet Coke.

In mutual service, Rich Murray

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1392
former NC Senator John Edwards gave up 8-12 cans daily Diet Coke about
January 2005, switching to caffeine free Diet Sprite Zero with 27% of
the aspartame per can: Murray 2006.12.28

http://johnedwards.com/splash/
http://johnedwards.com/about/contact/form/
http://johnedwards.com/media/podcasts/

John Edwards 002: At the Table:
John Edwards' Second Podcast Apr 19, 2005
Senator and Mrs. Edwards discuss issues and respond to questions
submitted by listeners.
File size: 9.4 MB
Duration: 27:22

About 9 minutes into the podcast, after discussing bankruptcy laws,
a fast lively jocular kidding exchange, often interrupting each other:

J: By the way -- we are podcasting today on top of Jack's blanket, his
gigi, uh, eh, because Elizabeth has her Diet Coke -- sitting on Jack's
blanket. I have my Diet Sprite Zero, sitting on Jack's blanket, which,
by the way, is really important because -- I'm not drinking Diet Coke
any more -- uh and it is, it is, uh, like a, uh huge change for me.
How long has it been there? Cold turkey -- for like three months?

E: (softly) yeah

J: three months, you're still drinking it there --

E: I am --

J: uh and it's --

E: (louder and faster) But I'm finding out I was not drinking quite,
quite as much as I thought I was, that you were drinking most, that you
were drinking most of those cokes that were disappear --

J: (interrupting) Me! It was me! I was drinking eight, ten, twelve of
those things a day -- so anyway --

E: (fast) So even if we spilled it on the blanket I don't think it's
the worst thing that was ever got on this blanket.

J: (quieter) OK, enough blankets and cokes and stuff. Uh, next
question.

Ted Rosenberg wrote:

> Peter Larsen wrote:

>>> many use 2 L, about 6 cans, of aspartame drinks daily,

>> Without going into details about which components in it are toxic
>> it is obviously foolish to drink that much chemists brew daily.

>> Peter Larsen

> ANOTHER idiot Aspartame troll

I do not know what powers american mass media, but aspartam has been
mentioned as problematic very many times in the media here in Denmark.

> Go back to Betty and tell her we STILL don't buy her crap
> and FUCK OFF

OK, that't the tone here ....

I don't know who Betty is, and I do not care.

> This is a discussion group for real, people not a hunting ground for
> Stevia scammers

Nor do I know what stevia is and I also do not care.

If you want to make the point that Rich Murray wastes tonnes of internet
bandwith to no avail posting long posts that nobody cares to read, I'm
with you.

If you want to make the point that he may be unduly alarmist, I am open
for it, but if you want to make the point that aspartame, or any other
artificial sweetener, is _safe_, then you are the one that comes across
as possibly being biased.

By being the most complex molecule aspartame also has the best chances
for being cancerogeous or in osme other way toxic. What needs also to be
considered is the amount taken in, and two liters of chemist's brew -
any diet soda is just that, and nothing more - as daily intake is plain
foolish.

Two other compounds give cause for concern, the caramel coloring of cola
and artificial orange taste.


Peter Larsen