Health News
Cancer Causing Chemical Found in Soft Drinks
March 2, 2006
Soft drinks that are sold in the UK have high levels of cancer causing chemicals. Many popular brands of soft drinks are found to contain high levels of benzene, almost eight times the level of benzene that is allowed in drinking water. The level of benzene in soft drinks is not legally restricted, as it is in water.
Benzene is a by product of a reaction between two other ingredients commonly used to make drinks. It has been linked to leukaemia and other cancers of the blood. Benzene is commonly used to make glues, paints and detergents.