Scientists declare war on nature: Troubled by lower profits?

[Guest guest]

Trust chemicals, beware of nature

 

>From make-up to medicine, scientists warn that people are wrong to think natural

must be best

 

Robin McKie, science editor

Sunday January 22, 2006

The Observer

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1692191,00.html

 

 

Far from being the best forms of nutrition, medicine or cosmetics on the

market, natural products can pose serious health risks, Britain's leading

chemists will warn this week. By contrast, synthetic chemicals, tightly

regulated and generally safe, are being unfairly blamed for causing cancers and

other illnesses, the researchers state. The warning comes in 'Making Sense of

Chemical Stories', to be published on Wednesday, in which chemists and

toxicologists highlight growing fears about people's misconceptions about

chemicals in everyday life. 'Synthetic chemicals are often much safer for

human health than so-called "natural" ones and unfounded anxiety about chemicals

is encouraging people into ideas and remedies that make no scientific or medical

sense,' they say. Among examples are expensive detoxification cures - including

tablets, diets and body wraps - that are less effective than a glass of water;

henna tattoos that can cause severe allergic reactions; and hair dyes and

eyeliners, such as kohl and surma, that contain toxic lead compounds. 'Kohl

is put in the inside of eyelids,' said Professor John Henry of Imperial College

London. 'The lead dissolves in teardrops and is absorbed by the body. The result

is lead poisoning. By contrast, standard eyeliners made with synthetic chemicals

contain no lead chemicals and are safe.' Another example is the dangers from

henna tattoos. Black henna contains the dye paraphenylenediamine, which can

cause an allergic reaction and lead to permanent scarring. Henry also warned

about the use of traditional medicines such as St John's wort: 'There is no

doubt that it can be effective for treating depression, but it is difficult to

administer. We do not know what its active ingredient is and that means you

cannot assess its dosage.' By contrast, the active ingredients of standard

medicines and cosmetics are known, can be manufactured synthetically and

accurately administered. Yet it is the synthetic chemical that

attracts hysterical media coverage, the report adds. Campaigns by environmental

groups have highlighted the presence of dangerous chemicals in pregnant women

and their unborn babies. However, it is never mentioned that the toxins are

present in fewer than one part per billion. Some also alleged that tiny traces

of different man-made chemicals can combine to produce a single, highly toxic

effect, but there is no evidence to support the idea. In short, says the

report, published by the charity Sense About Science, there is a wide mismatch

between the public's attitudes to man-made and natural substances. People think

the former lead to cancer and are responsible for many of society's woes. As a

result, they try to lead a chemical-free lifestyle. The idea is nonsense, says

the report. 'Claims that products are "chemical free" are untrue.' Research

chemist Derek Lohmann points out: 'If someone offered you a cocktail of butanol,

isoamyl alcohol, caffeine, geraniol, 3-galloyl

epicatechin, and inorganic salts, it sounds pretty ghastly. Yet it is just a

cup of tea.' By contrast, there has been a steady increase in uncritical

acceptance of natural products. 'This has happened partly as a result of

intensive merchandising of "alternative" products, lifestyle ideas and campaigns

that play on misconceptions about chemicals and about how the body works,'

states the report. 'Something needs to be done.'

 

 

 

 

 

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