Scientists find toxic metals in 60 common beverages

Soft drinks, fruit juices and plant-based milks in your local supermarket may be full of toxic metals, a study suggests.

Researchers at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, found toxic metals such as arsenic and cadmium in all 60 store-bought beverages they tested.

Five had “dangerous levels” of the chemicals, with the worst offenders being juices, plant-based milks, teas and soft drinks.

The scientists behind the study warn parents to limit their children’s consumption of store-bought beverages over concerns that the metals could interfere with the development of their brains and organs.

“It was surprising that there aren’t many studies in the United States on toxic and essential elements in soft drinks,” said Dr. Tewodros Godebo, the study’s lead author and an environmental health scientist at Tulane.

‘This creates the realization that more research is needed.’

He continued: ‘People should avoid giving babies and young children mixed fruit juices or plant-based milks in large quantities.

“Arsenic, lead and cadmium are known carcinogens and are widely known to cause internal organ damage and cognitive impairment in children, especially during early brain development.”

In recent years, more attention has been paid to contaminants in everyday goods.

A growing body of research shows that microplastics, metal toxins and other chemicals are everywhere in everyday food and drink – usually as a result of contamination during the manufacturing process.

Scientists fear that virtually every person has been exposed and there will be serious long-term health consequences.

Tulane researchers, who published their findings in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysisresearched dozens of goods that could be bought at any grocery store.

Of the 60 products, 21 were soft drinks or other artificial drinks. Mixed fruit juices made up 19 of the drinks. There were also six natural fruit juices, ten plant-based milks and four tea products.

Researchers have not identified which brands they purchased for their studies.

Samples of each drink were tested in a lab to identify the prevalence of 25 metals, including lead, potassium and uranium.

Each of the 60 drinks contained at least trace amounts of a toxic metal. However, researchers say these amounts were mostly safe.

‘These metals occur naturally, so it’s hard to get rid of them completely,’ explains Dr Godebo.

However, five drinks were classified as dangerous. These had levels of the metals found to be higher than what government regulators would allow for drinking water.

These include: one fruit juice; one mixed juice; one vegetable milk; a soda; and a tea.

The fruit juice and blended juice products contain elevated levels of boron, cadmium, strontium, arsenic and selenium.

The milk contained elevated levels of nickel, boron, cadmium, strontium and arsenic.

In the soft drink, there were elevated levels of nickel, cadmium, strontium, arsenic and selenium.

Finally, the tea was rich in all seven chemicals: nickel, boron, cadmium, strontium, arsenic and selenium.

While a single exposure to these chemicals in one drink now causes significant damage, each chemical carries risks after prolonged exposure.

Arsenic is associated with damage to the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys and lungs. Over time, it can lead to cancer in one of the organs or loss of vision.

Strontium is a radioactive chemical associated with blood cancers such as leukemia after significant exposure.

The lungs, kidneys and skeleton are damaged by cadmium, which is loved for cancer, organ failure and brittle bones.

Boron, manganese and nickel are each linked to damage to the liver, kidneys and other organs.

“I don’t think there needs to be fear,” said Hannah Stoner, a Tulane student who contributed to the study.

‘With toxicity, it’s the dose that often makes the difference, so everything in moderation. But this creates the realization that more research is needed.’

Researchers warn it could be especially dangerous for younger people.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that early childhood exposure to these metals is linked to “problems with learning, cognition, and behavior.”