RE: Hazardous vs. Radioactive Materials

["Neil, David M" <neildm@id.doe.gov>]

Bear with me - I'm working from memory here, but I recall that sodium nitrite is produced in your body and is present in saliva.  It's part of the immune system, for dealing with ingested bacteria.

 

Sodium nitrite is the preservative in bacon, ham, and sausages that is stated to be carcinogenic. I think they don't use it any more since a few years back.

 

Dave Neil

 

 

 -----Original Message-----
From: BLHamrick@AOL.COM [mailto:BLHamrick@AOL.COM]
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 2:37 PM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Hazardous vs. Radioactive Materials

> This may be slightly off-topic for this list, but I was 
>
>   wondering if anyone knew of any specific hazardous materials (carcinogens) 
>
>   that are present in the natural background, as radioactive material is, and 
>
>   what the "background" risk levels might be for those hazardous 
>
>   materials.
>
> Barbara