Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Eating May Kill

Food is a major source of arsenic in the American diet, as the chemical is still used in feed for poultry and occasionally hogs to prevent disease. Waste from those animals can contaminate fields when it is used as fertilizer. As a result, arsenic can be found in fruits, vegetables, rice and seafood - all of which are considered healthy. The U.S. government has a federal limit for arsenic in drinking water at 10 parts per billion (ppb).(1)


But you see this is all about choice. Does eating have a marginal utility greater than the perceived risk of cancer ?

1'U.S. needs arsenic limits in rice: Consumer Reports" - Reuters

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