Dosage toxicity

2003/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

Two US researchers propose to reexamine the limits that apply to certain substances considered hazardous toxic in food, water or drugs. According to these researchers, some suspected toxins may be beneficial in small doses, but they have been harmed from a dose and completely discarded.

Bear in mind that 30 years ago X-rays were considered harmful. Today, however, they are used in medicine and the same happens with many others. For example, dioxins are carcinogenic at high doses, but have been shown to prevent tumor growth in some species.

According to researchers, governments are spending a lot of money on eliminating substances they believe can cause environmental damage. Meanwhile, through food, people take many chemicals that can be as harmful as synthetic. Therefore, they consider that people need information and education on this issue.