August 7, 2024 Choosing healthy drinks is getting harder. For years, Americans focused on moving away from sodas and fatty dairy milks. In their place, consumers added fruit juices and non-dairy milks. But recent research shows that these may not be our best options after all.
Researchers at Tulane University found heavy metals and other chemicals in fruit juices and plant-based milks. Seven of these metals were found in concentrations exceeding the levels deemed safe in drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency.
How Heavy Metals and Other Toxins Enter Our Food
Beverages tested in the study contained unsafe levels of arsenic, cadmium, manganese, nickel, selenium, and strontium. The researchers also found traces of lead in more than 90% of the samples.
The study’s authors noted that fruits, nuts, grains, and legumes used to make the contaminated beverages were likely contaminated through heavy metals in the soil and water used while growing and processing them. Other foods have also been found to contain high levels of these toxic metals. For example, some types of fish contain high levels of mercury, and rice may contain arsenic.
Why Heavy Metals Are Dangerous
Elevated levels of heavy metals can lead to significant health issues, including:
- Exposure to lead and arsenic can lead to cognitive and developmental issues and birth defects in children.
- Cadmium exposure has been linked to impaired kidney function and weakened bone structure.
- Lead is of particular concern, as it is linked strongly to cognitive impairments, behavioral issues, and neurological problems in children.
- Many of the heavy metals found in the studied beverages are also known carcinogens.
EPA Standards May Fall Short
EPA limits for chemicals such benzene have come under scrutiny for not going far enough to protect Americans. Exposure to toxic chemicals in food and drinks adds to overall environmental exposure. Toxins can build up and cause harm, even if each source of exposure doesn’t surpass levels generally recognized as safe.
Because the beverages are so widely used, there is significant lifelong cumulative risk of ingesting toxic chemicals. The study’s authors cautioned young children, women who are pregnant or those who may become pregnant to avoid using these beverages or limit their consumption.
How We Help Victims of Benzene Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced attorneys. Our Dallas, Texas, benzene law firm has battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for 20 years, aggressively fighting to hold them responsible for dangerous chemicals and the personal injuries and cancers they cause. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury caused by dangerous products, we can help.
