The poultry industry has been using the feed additive roxarsone -- purportedly to fight intestinal parasites and enhance growth in chickens -- since the Food and Drug Administration approved it in 1944. The arsenic additive stimulates the growth of blood vessels in chicken, which makes the meat appear pinker and more attractive in its plastic wrap at the grocery store, but does little else. The arsenic additive act's similarly in human cells, fueling a growth process known as angiogenesis, a critical first step in many human diseases such as cancer.  The same FDA that tells us the airport scanners are safe! Chicken growers have been adding arsenic a well-known  poison to enhance profits for decades while making many of them sick as well. 

Arsenic is a known carcinogen

Arsenic is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) that also bioaccumulates – which means when you are exposed to this element, it can build up in your body.  Some say arsenic is not cancer causing but it also known to enhance the mutagenicity of other agents, including ultraviolet radiation (UVR). This enhancing effect appears to result from inhibition or interference of DNA repair by arsenite.  It is also known to be a  hormone disruptor [2], something that is very good to keep away from young, growing bodies. So when arsenic is included in chicken feed, some lodges in the eggs, meat and organs of the chickens.  We have unwittingly been been eating small quantities of this poison for years, recently many are eating greater amounts of chicken making this a health issue for many.  In some communities arsenic is found in some drinking water only adding to our dose.

What are some of the health issues associated with Arsenic exposure?

• Skin cancer
• Bladder cancer [3]
• Respiratory cancer
• Diabetes [3][9] 
• Hormone disruptor [5]
  

What does Arsenic laced chicken feed have to do radiation? 

Radiation like many poisons accumulates in the body adverse effects may not appear for years if ever.  For most the arsenic dose relatively small but still accumulates in the body potentially leading to a variety of heath issues.  Most radiation damage is repaired or leads to cell death  but some DNA damage can be passed to your next generation or lead to cancer.  Researchers Fredric J Burns and others found arsenic enhanced ultraviolet (UV) radiation carcinogenesis in mouse skin, in a 2004 dose-response study.[7]  The study did not cover X-rays that are simply more powerful UV and are well known to cause cancer.

Diabetes effects 347 Million world wide

In the fifth edition Diabetes Atlas published by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in October 2009 had estimated the number of diabetics at 285 million for 2010, although a separate study published in the Lancet medical journal in June this year had already put the figure at a much higher 347 million.  "The IDF's latest Atlas data are proof indeed that diabetes is a massive challenge the world can no longer afford to ignore. In 2011 one person is dying from diabetes every seven seconds," said IDF President Jean Claude Mbanya. [9]

I'm vegetarian why do I care?

Arsenic contaminated chicken liter is used as "organic" fertilizer.  Spread over gardens contaminating soil and water plants take up the elemental and arsenic compounds that form in the soil.  

Radiation is a known carcinogen

Radiation particularly ionizing is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) that also bioaccumulates – which means when you are exposed to this field, damage can build up in your body. It is also known to disrupt every organ in the body, something that is very good to keep away from young, growing bodies and expecting mothers.   We have been receiving a dose for years from medical and dental procedures.  Recently new travel security, mobile x-ray vans and scanners hidden in public buildings  are exposing us to greater levels making this is a health issue.  In some communities with higher back-ground radiation only adds to our dose.  See our dose calculator.

The General use of radiation for security damages DNA

Cumulative radiation damage to DNA may lead to cancer if not repaired.  A portion of the population has issues with the BRCA gene involved in the DNA repair sequence and has been linked to breast and ovarian cancers.  Combined with Arsenic linked to tumor suppression cancer tumors can rampage out of control.  Arsenic suppresses glucocorticoid activity reduces the effectiveness of glucocorticoid tumor suppressor.[3]  In this way relatively small individual exposure risks may be amplified by other toxins, or stressors. 

What can  you do to reduce your Arsenic exposure?

Fortunately the arsenic levels are relatively low and exposure can be minimizes with water conditioning (if required) and careful selection of chicken growers. In 2006 Three-quarters of conventionally-grown chicken tested positive for arsenic, and even one in three organic products showed signs of arsenic. [1] So on average, organic chicken products are a safer bet for your family.  Many people are moving to purchasing local products or home grown so you know what is in your food.   

Radiation exposure can be reduced by minimizing your time in the field, increasing your distance to the source and or adding shielding. 

Jeff Buske Electrical engineer, inventor, defender of liberty, DNA and health privacy advocate.

Rocky Flats Gear USA Mfg of radiation protective garments. 888-X-RAY-NOT

Related Links:

[1] Playing Chicken, Avoiding Arsenic in Your Meat, April 2006,

http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=80529

http://thewellzone.org/2011/05/fda-permits-feeding-chicken-arsenic-adding-more-toxins-into-our-food-supply/

Chicken With Arsenic? Is That O.K.?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/dining/05well.html

[2] low doses of arsenic have broad impact on hormone activity

[3] Kaltreider, RC, AM. Davis, JP Lariviere, and JW Hamilton 2001. Arsenic Alters the Function of the Glucocorticoid Receptor as a Transcription Factor.

http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/newscience/oncompounds/2001kaltreideretal.htm

[4]  USDA and FDA Coordinating Efforts to Ensure Safety of Produce

[5] Chemicals in the environment -- most notably bisphenol-A (BPA), which is found in many hard plastic acts as estrogen hormone, says Dr. Gary Berkovitz, M.D., a professor of pediatric endocrinology

Vitamin A and its derivatives, retinol and retinyl palmitate, may speed up cancer when used as sun screen.

[6] http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/24/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/09/girls.starting.puberty.early/index.html

Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Multivitamin Supplement Use and Stomach Cancer Mortality in the Cancer Prevention

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/11/1/35.full

[7] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241927/ 

[8] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11578149

[9] http://www.gmanews.tv/story/232285/world/diabetes-cases-hit-366m-worldwide-experts-say