Carcinogens dietary problems

Knasmuller, S., Steinkellner, H., Majer, B. J., Nobis, E. C., Scharf, G., and Kassie, F. (2002). Search for dietary antimutagens and anti carcinogens Methodological aspects and extrapolation problems. Food Chem Toxicol 40, 1051-1062. 

One excellent food that illustrates this dichotomy is the peanut. First, there is a well-documented physical hazard associated with children who choke on them. Should we label peanuts to protect us from these acute hazards, which probably killed more children than exposure to any trace level of pesticide on the same peanut Secondly, some individuals are acutely allergic to peanuts or any food containing them. This is a serious problem for those sensitive individuals, and efforts continue to be made to label foods containing peanuts to alert these individuals. The main toxicological problem of peanuts and products made from them, such as my personal dietary staple, peanut butter, is the problem of contamination with molds. Aflatoxin, found in moldy peanuts, is the most potent human carcinogen known and is well documented to produce liver cancer. 

Lead is considered to be a toxic element as a consequence of a variety of biochemical effects. Among these are included neurological problems, haematological effects, renal dysfunction, hypertension and cancer (the lARC has classified Pb as a carcinogen), for which there is evidence in animals but not yet in humans. The latter study, also involving humans, however suggested that the increases in lead uptake have occurred when dietary Fe was low. 

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