Evaluation of the Health Aspects of Certain Compounds Found in Irradiated Beef.
Abstract
The Army requested a thorough review of the possible toxicity to man of the volatile compounds detected in the irradiated beef. Sixty-five compounds have been identified in the irradiated beef. A number of nonvolatile compounds would not be detected by the analytical methods employed and were not considered in this study. Those identified include both saturated an unsaturated aliphatic compounds containing from 2 to 17 carbon atoms; certain of their alcohol, aldehyde and ketone derivatives; three aromatic hydrocarbons; and some sulfur-, nitrogen- and chlorine-containing compounds. The concentrations of the individual compounds range from 1 to 700 micrograms per kg beef with a total concentration of 9.4 mg per kg. The Select Committee reviewed the usual distribution of each compound in foods, water supplies and the atmosphere as well as its absorption, metabolic formation and dispositon, acute and chronic toxicity and potential hazards for man. Tetrachloroethylene and benzene were scrutinized with especial care because of their possible carcinogenicity. The Committee concluded that there were no grounds to suspect that the radiolytic compounds evaluated in this report would constitute any hazard to health to persons consuming reasonable quantities of beef irradiated in the described manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA045716
Entities
People
- Herman I. Chinn
Organizations
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology