Sulphur/Sulfur and health. E220.

Sulphur dioxide

E220

Preservative.

Sulphur dioxide reacts with a wide range of substances found in food, including various essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and essential fatty acids. Adverse reactions: bronchial problems particularly in those prone to asthma, hypotension (low blood pressure), flushing tingling sensations or anaphylactic shock. International Labour Organization says to avoid E220 if you suffer from conjunctivitis, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, or cardiovascular disease.

 

Grapes and sulfur, Smell before you eat...

  Health effects of Sulfur.

  Sulfur is mainly found in nature in the form of sulphide. In several processes  sulfur compounds are released to the environment, where they cause damage to both animals and humans. These harmful sulfur compounds are formed in nature during  all kinds of reactions. These reactions are undesirable because they producean  unpleasant odor and  are often highly toxic. Generally, sulfur compounds have the following effects on human health:

- Neurological effects and behavioral changes  

- Disturbance of blood circulation 

- Heart damage 

- Diseases of the eyes and sight problems

- Reproductive failure 

- Damage to immune systems 

- Stomach and digestive disorders 

- Damage to liver and kidney functions 

- Hearing defects 

- Disturbance of the hormonal metabolism 

- Dermatological effects 

- Suffocation , pulmonary embolism

- Internal nervous system.

Sulfur in the air can be found in various forms. When sulfur in gaseous state is absorbed by inhalation, it can cause eye -and throat irritation. Sulfur is extensively used in industry as pesticides,  in animals sulfur causes malfunction of the hypothalamus and particularly affects the nervous system and brains. Laboratory experiments with animals have shown that sulfur also seriously damages the blood vessels in the brains, heart and kidneys.These tests show that some sorts of sulfur cause fetal damage and birth defects. Sulfur Poisoning may occur to babies when mothers breastfed their children .

 Sulfur is widely used to fight mildew on vegetables and fruits. It was this week I smelled and tasted sulfur on my grapes, even after rinsing with water it was still there.

Use your nose....