Another way to think about climate change --- lung cancer

[KT2000]

3. another cause of lung cancer

Last edited Wed May 14, 2014, 02:20 AM - Edit history (1)

is the chemical BCME - bis (chloromethyl) ether

It is a byproduct in the manufacture of fertilizers and other things. The European exposure level is zero and the US it is 1 part per million.

It is also created when formaldehyde mixes with chloride ions in an acid atmosphere (such as a coastal salt water environment). Studies conducted by combining formaldehyde and chloride in containers did not result in BCME. Another study has shown, in a larger environment it forms in the headspace when using formaldehyde and chlorine. It causes oat cell lung cancer - the one that affects women the most and it has one of the shortest latency periods known.

It was studied after a crisis where several workers died of lung cancer after an accident caused the mixing of formaldehyde and chlorine. These were the small container studies.