Latest news with #acrylamide
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Certain type of coffee linked to crippling eye disease as doctors warn: Stop drinking it, NOW
It already tastes significantly worse, but there might be an even bigger reason not to drink instant coffee. Chinese researchers say they have found a link between instant coffee and an eye disease that causes blurry or distorted central vision. They found that those with a preference for instant coffee were up to seven times more likely to develop the disorder than drinkers of other types. Known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), it sees the small, central part of the retina wear down, affecting people's ability to read, drive and recognize faces. Researchers believe the link could be due to the way instant coffee is prepared, which releases a chemical called acrylamide which may enter the bloodstream and damage the retina. Dr Qi Jia, an ophthalmologist who led the study, warned: 'Instant coffee may increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration, and reducing its intake could help prevent[it]. 'People at high risk of age-related macular degeneration should avoid instant coffee.' People who have a family history of the disease, are overweight, smoke or have high blood pressure are all at higher risk for the condition. People with blue or green eyes are also at an elevated risk because their eyes contain less pigment, which means they can sustain more damage from sunlight. But the researchers caution their study was observational and does not prove that instant coffee causes AMD. Previous studies have actually shown that coffee could reduce the risk of AMD. A 2023 study involving 67,000 adults linked coffee drinking to a thickening of nerve fiber layers in the eye, helping to protect vision. However, the new study is one of the few to look at different types of coffee. The study used data on participants from the UK Biobank and the FinnGen consortium, which tracks genetic data on people in Britain and Finland. The study didn't strictly look at whether someone drank instant coffee, it used a different methodology involving genes. There is some evidence that people's genes decide which coffee they prefer, whether they prefer a more bitter or smoother taste and if they can easily tolerate caffeine. After dividing participants by their genetic predisposition for drinking instant, ground or decaffeinated coffee, they then analyzed the AMD rates. Results showed those placed in the instant coffee group were 692 percent more likely to be diagnosed with dry age-related macular degeneration — where the macula, in the center of the eye and responsible for central vision, deteriorates over time. They also said they were 159 percent more likely to suffer from wet age-related macular degeneration — where abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula, causing vision complications. Decaf drinkers were also found to be 80 percent more likely to suffer from dry AMD, although this difference was not significant. Participants were only considered to have developed AMD if it appeared after their 50th birthday and was diagnosed by a physician. AMD is a common condition among older adults, with approximately one in ten Americans aged 50 years or over suffering from the condition. There is no cure for the condition, but doctors say that starting treatment early can help to slow its progression. This may include taking supplements like vitamin C, E and zinc, or drugs for wet AMD that can slow the growth of blood vessels in the eyes. Researchers emphasize that more work is needed to confirm the findings of the study. Overall, it included 7,600 participants who had dry AMD and 5,900 who had wet AMD. It was published in the journal Food Science and Nutrition.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Doctor issues urgent cancer warning over hidden chemical in drink you have EVERY DAY
A hidden chemical in coffee could be raising your risk of cancer, a top longevity doctor has warned. Acrylamide is not added to the beverage or listed on labels, but forms at high temperatures during the roasting process. Your browser does not support iframes.
Zawya
12-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman's biggest polymer project set for Q1 2026 launch
MUSCAT: The first phase of a major polymer project, currently under construction at Sohar Port and Freezone with an investment of $300 million, is on track for launch in the first quarter of 2026. When fully operational at a nameplate capacity of 350,000 tonnes per annum, the facility will position the Sultanate of Oman as one of the world's largest producers of acrylamide and polyacrylamide – polymers that are at the heart of the enhanced oil recovery (EOR), fracking and drilling markets globally. 'This project represents a strategic move to boost the company's manufacturing capabilities in the region and support enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects in the GCC region and internationally,' said Alexey Andrianov, Director of Sales & Technology - Middle East, Europe & North Africa, ZL EOR Chemicals, a Canada-based group specialising in the production of chemical EOR (CEOR) for the global oil and gas sector. 'Once operational, the facility will manufacture high-quality polyacrylamide products aimed at supporting oilfield operations across the Middle East and export markets,' Andrianov added in a post on Friday. Last December, ZL EOR Chemicals and its local partners Polymer Experts kicked off construction work on their world-scale polyacrylamide (PAM) manufacturing facility on an expansive 250,000 m2 plot in Suhar. Sharing an update on the project's current status, Andrianov said: 'The Sohar plant construction is advancing steadily, with foundational structures, utility systems, and key equipment installations nearing completion. The commissioning of Phase 1 is expected to begin in early 2026, with Phase 1 production targeted for Q1 2026,' he noted. Significantly, the Sohar project builds on ZL Group's longstanding presence in the Omani market, initially as a supplier of imported polyacrylamide for the Omani oilfield sector, but latterly as a local manufacturer of this commodity. In 2019, the Group launched what was then Oman's first-ever polymer manufacturing plant in Raysut Industrial City in Dhofar Governorate. Constructed with an investment of $20 million, the facility began with an initial capacity of 15,000 tonnes of polymer per annum, with subsequent expansions envisioned to boost capacity to 70,000 tonnes. ZL Group's maiden investment in Oman at the time was in response to calls for the localisation of polyacrylamide manufacturing in light of the sizable demand for this commodity, notably by majority state-owned Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the country's largest producer of oil and gas. Chemical EOR operations are an integral part of PDO's strategy to maximise output from its mature oil fields. It entails the injection of polymers, among other chemicals such as surfactants and alkaline agents, into oil reservoirs to increase the efficiency of oil extraction. Within PDO's concession, polymer-based EOR has been deployed as part of the Marmul Polymer Flooding Project, billed as one of the largest of its kind in the Middle East. Furthermore, at Qarn Alam, a hybrid project utilises a combination of thermally-assisted gas/oil gravity drainage (TA-GOGD) with chemical assistance in the optimisation of oil mobilisation. 'By establishing local production, ZL Group aims to strengthen supply chain reliability, reduce lead times, and provide cost-effective solutions for regional clients in Oman, GCC and other regions,' Andrianov added in his post. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
