[rani thorning]

rani thorning  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hello, I have been wondering for a long time, if the plastic filter holder where the hot water passes into a drip coffee pot might have harmful cancer-causing agents in the plastic that combine with the hot water and coffee grounds every time you make a pot of coffee with one of these machines.

I thought of running plain water in the pot with out any coffee or filter to send in for lab testing of water purity and seeing if they come up with any result of toxins.

But I thought you may already know! so I hope to hear from you on this,

Thank You, Rani Thorning

What do you think?

[ness_kiely]

Hello,

I am new to the Naked Science Forum! [^] I am currently completing my Diploma of Education in Secondary Teaching who has a degree in Science majoring in Nutrition.

This is a very interesting topic and one that im sure there will be future research about!

From what I have learnt and the research i have read I dont believe that the plastic would have harmful cancer-causing agents.

How about if the filter holder was made out of ceramic?

Does anyone else have any other suggestions [O8)]!   

[lyner]

Which plastics did you have in mind?

[RD]

Phthalates are also frequently used in soft plastic fishing lures, nail polish, adhesives, caulk, paint pigments, and sex toys...
Initial rodent studies on carcinogenity indicated hepatocarcinogenity [i.e. causes liver cancer].
Following this result, diethyl hexyl phthalate was listed as a possible carcinogen by IARC, EC and WHO.
Later studies on primates showed that the mechanism was specific to rodents - humans are resistant to the effect.
The carcinogen classification was subsequently withdrawn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate

So don't let your pet rat nibble your "rampant rabbit"  []