Sodium chloride health effects

The health effects of sorbic acid and sorbates have been reviewed (165—167). The extremely low toxicity of sorbic acid enhances its desirabiHty as a food preservative. The oral LD q for sorbic acid in rats is 7—10 g/kg body weight compared to 5 g/kg for sodium chloride (165—169). In subacute and chronic toxicity tests in rats, 5% sorbic acid in the diet results in no abnormal effects after 90 days or lifetime feeding studies. A level of 10% in rat diets results in a slight enlargement of the Hver, kidneys, and thyroid gland (170). This same dietary level fed to mice also resulted in an increase in Hver and kidney weight... 

High concentrations of chloride in water often imply high sodium. The latter may cause adverse health effects on humans if such water is used for drinking purposes (Table 13.8). 

Koenig, J.Q., W.E. Pierson, M. Horike, and R. Frank. 1982. Effects of inhaled sulfur dioxide (SO2) on pulmonary function in healthy adolescents Exposure to SO2 -t sodium chloride droplet aerosol during rest and exercise. Arch. Environ. Health. 37(l) 5-9. 

Chen, Y-Y and W.-M. G. Lee (2001) The effect of surfactants on the deliquescence of sodium chloride. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A 36, 229-242 Chin, M. (1992) Atmospheric studies of carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide and their relationship to stratospheric background sulfur aerosol. Doctoral Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology... 

Sources Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Huoride (1997) Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin 85, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline (1998) EHetary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids (2000) Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc (2001) Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate (2005) and EHetary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D (2011). These reports may be accessed via www.nap.edu A Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the highest level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population. Unless otherwise specified, the UL represents total intake from food, water, and supplements. Due to a lack of suitable data, ULs could not be established for vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and carotenoids. In the absence of a UL, extra caution may be warranted in consuming levels above recommended intakes. Members of the general population should be advised not to routinely exceed the UL. The UL is not meant to ply to individuals who are treated with the nutrient under medical supervision or to individuals with predisposing conditions that modify their sensitivity to the nutrient... 

Apply some common sense when you read MSDSs and bottle labels. Using these chemicals does not mean you will experience the consequences that can potentially result from exposure to each chemical. For example, an MSDS for sodium chloride states, "Exposure to this product may have serious adverse health effects." Despite the apparent severity of this cautionary statement, it would not be reasonable to expect people to stop using sodium chloride in a chemistry experiment or to stop sprinkling a small amount of it (as table salt) on eggs to enhance their flavor. In many cases, the consequences described in MSDSs from exposure to chemicals are somewhat overstated, particularly for students using these chemicals to perform a laboratory experiment. 

The various examples that have just been presented show that it is possible, with limited experimental effort, to be able to prediet the evolution of the physical-chemical properties of liquid biological media or solid foods. It then becomes easy to be able to quickly calculate the elTeet of composition changes on the pH or the aw of the food, without going through tests expensive in time and money. Among the requests made by health authorities, the reduction of the quantities of sodium chloride has been included. The thermodynamics software allows us to quickly check the effect of such a reduction and to test the substitution of sodium chloride by potassium chloride or by any other salt or mixture of salts. It can be used to determine the optimal substitution rate which only requires the test of one or two solutions. Nonetheless, the most promising use of the thermodynamic model is its incorporation in process simulators. 

Industrial poisoning. The production of silicone products uses substances harmful for human health. These are inorganic substances (ammonia, chlorine, sodium and potassium hydroxides, sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, hydrogen chloride) and organic compounds of various types, such as hydrocarbons (methane, benzene and its homologues), chlorine derivatives (methyl- and ethylchloride, chlorobenzene), alcohols (methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, hydrosite), acetone, pyridine, etc. The information about their toxicity, explosion hazard, effect on human body, as well as maximum allowable concentrations of gases and vapours in the air at workplace can be found in special references.(Ryabov 1970). A comprehensive description of silicone substances is given in Table 29. 

Nielson JB, Anderson O. 1991. A comparison of the effects of sodium selenite and seleno-L-methionine on disposition of orally administered mercuric chloride. J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis 5(4) 245-250. 

---