Boycott Watch
                 
August 13, 2007
 
Email about Johns Hopkins, Cancer and Water Bottles Is A Hoax
 
Summary: Boycott Watch busts yet another email hoax
 
    At Boycott Watch, we have debunked many false rumors sent via email and this is one we thought we had debunked long ago, as we first received this email long ago, but it looks like this one just got away.

   Anyhow, an email is circularizing which claims that research from "John Hopkins" reveals that you can get dangerous dioxin poisoning from microwaving plastic. First, the actual name is "Johns Hopkins" and not "John Hopkins," which was our first clue the email is false. Second, dioxins have been banned for decades, so people should realize this is a problem with the email before forwarding it.

   More importantly, a simple check on the Internet will take you to a page on Johns Hopkins website where they thoroughly debunk the email, which is after all falsely attributed to them. Their very thorough report is titled "Researcher Dispels Myth of Dioxins and Plastic Water Bottles" which is posted at http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_dioxins.html

   In summary, Boycott Watch once again warns people not to forward such emails, as they are meant to look real, but are most probably hoaxes, just as this one is a hoax. Incidentally, this email is formatted so sloppily that the average 3rd grader could have done a better job.


--- Beginning of text from the original email ---

An important message from Johns Hopkins

Subject: CANCER UPDATES FROM JOHN HOPKINS

YOU HAVE READ THIS PLEASE READ IT AGAIN

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army 
Medical Center as well.

Please circulate to all you know; Cancer update

A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast
cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't 
freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the 
plastic.

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle 
Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about 
dioxins and how bad they are for us.

He said that we should not be heating our food in the 
microwave using plastic containers...

This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics 
releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the 
body...

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, 
Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only 
without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., 
should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's 
just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.

He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food 
restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is 
one of the reasons...

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as 
dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is 
nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic 
wrap and drip into the food.

Cover food with a paper towel instead.

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in your life!

--- End of text from the original email ---


 
 
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