“Acrylamide” — CH2=CH-CO-NH2 — a fairly harmless organic intermediate in the production of some forms of plastics, has received a wide press lately, having been slated by the EU (no less!) for “increasing” the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers in “women” - (not in men, I hasten to notice.)
...
Firstly; the pretentiously-higgorant journos don’t mean “acrylamide” at all—they mean “acrylaldehyde”, which was what we chemists call “acrolein”. It is mildly oxidizing in the presence of liver-alcohol-dehydrogenase, inhibits it, and can extend hangovers caused by other reasons. It tastes and smells nasty and so it therefore might be a little bitty toxic as is the case with other poisons. It is produced in small amounts by carbonizing fried food further than necessary. Its formula is CH2=CH-CHO... A bit different from acrylamide (which does not occur naturally.)
Whoops!
1 comment:
Mmmmm. Actually, I think this is whoops to you, DK.
A little more research is recommended methinks. :)
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