Question

According to WHO (World Health Organization), processed meats, including ham, salami, sausages, and hot dogs has classified as a 'Group 1 carcinogen', which means that there's strong evidence that processed meats are linked to cancer. The reason why processed meats are carcinogenic is due to the chemicals they contain. Current research indicates that there are certain chemicals in processed meats -- both added and naturally occurring -- that cause these foods to be carcinogenic. For example, a chemical in processed meat called “haem or heme” is broken down in the gut and produces N-nitroso chemicals that have been found to damage the cells that line the bowel and can lead to bowel cancer. The nitrite preservatives used to preserve processed meat also produce these N-nitroso chemicals and can lead to bowel cancer. A European research team found that bowel cancer rates were 30% higher among people who ate 160 g/day of these meats, compared to the rate in people who ate just 20 g/day. Please do not freak-out if you eat processed meat, these findings are based on correlation, NOT cause and effect data. Based on this research, Alyssa decided to eat only 20 g processed meat every day to be on a safe side. She bought a 500 g processed meat, which contains 0.0005% (w/w) heme. How many ng of heme she is taking daily?

Answer 1

As 500 g processed meat contains 0.0005% (w/w) heme, it has 0.0025 g of heme in 500 g processed meat.

So, in 20 g processed meat amount of heme = [(0.0025 / 500) x 20] g = 0.0001 g = (0.0001 x 10⁹) ng (As 1 g = 10⁹ ng) = 100,000 ng

So, she is daily taking 100,000 ng of heme.