Cancer in the Garden of Eden
Despite abundant scientific evidence of natural carcinogens, governmental agencies fail to report on most of them, and warn only about industrial carcinogens. The apocalptic view that cancer is a modern moral and political disease caused by human greed and arrogance toward the environment is in contrast to a large body of literature indicating that nature is teeming with carcinogens as well as with substances, known as mutagens, that damage genetic material. Lab tests indicate that not only food items, but classic food preparation methods are carcinogenic or mutagenic. Man himself is made up of naturally carcinogenic components. If one accepts the no-threshold theory when assessing cancer risk, these findings would seem to be catastrophic. While industrial carcinogens are susceptible to political action, we cannot escape those in nature. A review of the literature, the debate over natural mutagens, and public fears and reactions concludes that literate Americans will reject the big cancer lie in cancer risk assessment.
- OSTI ID:
- 6076934
- Journal Information:
- Electr. Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Electr. Perspect.; (United States)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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