1,4-dioxane Likely Came From Environment

1,4-dioxane likely came from environment

Recently, Gelman Sciences has run advertisements in The Ann Arbor News and Dexter Leader that give the impression that 1,4-dioxane and other carcinogenic compounds are normal components of human and animal waste. The information presented is from studies that were performed in the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1989. It is true that the human body does eliminate numerous organic and inorganic toxic compounds.

Some of these toxic substances will be generated by us, but a large amount will be from environmental sources. Since 1,4-dioxane is an industrial solvent and recent review of my biochemistry texts failed to provide a reaction that could produce it in humans, it is most likely that the 1,4-dioxane and several of the other compounds found in the Russian subjects came from an external source, their environment.

While the former Soviet Union is not an overwhelming environmental disaster, it does have one of the worst records of the industrialized world.

For the past 20 years, we have found mercury in our fish and DDT in our birds. While we may normally find these toxins in their waste and in their flesh, it wouldn’t be there if we hadn’t put it there. So, when studies from a government that routinely covers up its environmental disasters, imply, don’t worry what we found in your feces is normal, I’m going to be skeptical.

Just because a pollutant and potential carcinogen is already found in our ecosystem is not a good argument for releasing more.

Obviously, Gelman Sciences is not responsible for the failed environmental policies of the former Soviet Union or the mercury and pesticides in our wildlife. I believe that Gelman Sciences is trying its best to clean up the 1,4-dioxane. I also believe that the dilution levels proposed, if attained, may not pose any great threat to our environment. But what I don’t believe, comrade, is that it’s normal.

Everett L. Lober

Dexter