H. Babich
Oct 1, 1982
Citations
1
Influential Citations
118
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Environmental research
Abstract
Abstract The safety of the food additive butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) for human consumption is being reevaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization of the United Nations. There are few studies on the effects of BHT to humans, with most of these studies just identifying the metabolic products of BHT. Studies with laboratory animals indicate that BHT may exert both detrimental and beneficial effects. For example, BHT ameliorates the toxicity and carcinogenicity of several chemical and physical agents, yet potentiates the toxicity and carcinogenicity of others. Furthermore, while BHT may exert a positive effect on life span, it exerts a negative effect on the lungs, kidneys, myocardial cells, liver metabolism of lipids, and clotting factors, and is a potential behavioral and developmental teratogen.