Day 039 - 20 Oct 94 - Page 23
1 in other beverages, that this is, therefore,
2 insignificant.
3
4 Some argue that, but that is not an argument I would want
5 to make. My approach, since I wish to err, if erring at
6 all, on the side of caution, I would say that if people are
7 exposed already to an undesirable toxic insult, then it is
8 prudent not gratuitously to expose them to a further
9 insult, even if that insult might be smaller in absolute
10 magnitude.
11
12 But I think it is a mistake simply to equate, say, nitrites
13 and nitrates in drinking water with nitrates and nitrites
14 in bacon, for example, ham or bacon, because my concern
15 about the possible hazards that might arise from the
16 ingestion of nitrates has to do with the formation of these
17 compounds called nitrosamines, which are notoriously
18 aggressive carcinogens, and carcinogens can and often are
19 formed in the cooking process. Therefore, a low level of
20 nitrites in bacon, for example, or ham, might result in a
21 higher level of nitrosamine formation than a corresponding
22 or even a higher level of nitrate when present in drinking
23 water, which is just poured down the throat and passes
24 rapidly through.
25
26 So, I do not think it is sufficient just to compare total
27 quantities of nitrate from whatever source and treat them
28 as if they were equivalent. What matters, I take it, is
29 the net exposure to nitrosamines of varying kinds.
30
31 Q. What is the case against these two substances regarding
32 nitrosamines then? Do you have a reference you can refer
33 us to?
34 A. Well, the nitrosamine, the hazard of nitrosamines are
35 discussed extensively in the reports from the Joint Expert
36 Committee on Food Additives. That is my footnotes 31, 32,
37 and also all of those at the bottom of page 18, yes, all
38 those at the bottom of page -- from footnote 30 to footnote
39 43, with the exception only of footnote 41; all of those
40 discuss the nitrosamine issue.
41
42 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Can I understand it correctly?
43 A. Forgive me, I cannot hear you.
44
45 Q. Can I understand the matter correctly? You are not
46 referring in your statement to any examples of known human
47 adverse reaction to Sodium Nitrite or Potassium Nitrate
48 added to food?
49 A. With the exception of footnote 48, that is correct.
50
51 Q. Let me look at that then. Yes, I had missed that. Is
52 there any other reference?
53 A. Not to direct effects on humans. Perhaps it would help
54 if I explained that there is no dispute amongst
55 professional toxicologists on the question of whether or
56 not nitrosamines are carcinogens to both animals and
57 humans. There is as close as we come to a consensus on
58 that matter amongst toxicologists.
59
60 The debate focuses on the issue of the magnitude, relative
