Does exposure to environmental pollutants increase the need for vitamin C?
Using ascorbic acid as a model, this paper proposes that the concept of the RDA should be broadened to take into account the effects of ubiquitous pollutants on human health, a factor not specifically incorporated in RDA derivations. It is now widely accepted that ascorbic acid nutritional status markedly affects the toxicity and/or carcinogenicity of greater than 50 pollutants, many of which are ubiquitous in the air, water, and food environments. At the present time, the data do not warrant changing the ascorbic acid RDA in light of the knowledge of pollutant interactions.
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000633:toxicity; D004032:Diet; D004782:Environmental Health; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000378:metabolism; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D051381:Rats; D012907:Smoking; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000378:metabolism; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009602:Nitrosamines; D012977:Sodium Nitrite; D001205:Ascorbic Acid