In spite of the fact that as a result of scientific research and medical experiments the harm of nitrite of sodium was revealed, it continues to be used still in the course of production of products.
As what preservative use sodium nitrite
Sodium nitrite, or E250 nutritional supplement, is used in the food industry as universal additive. It promotes maintenance of coloring of a product and preservation of meat and fish products.
In pure form nitrite of sodium represents dirty-white or yellowish crystal powder. It is perfectly dissolved in water, and on air is oxidized to nitrate. Besides, it is excellent reducer. This preservative began to be used in 1906 when it was for the first time approved as nutritional supplement.
Often this preservative is used as antioxidant which provides beautiful pink color to meat products, however it is proved that nitrite of sodium is all-toxic agent. It is considered that for the person the dose equal to 2-6 grams is deadly therefore his misuse can quite bring in the food industry in a lethal outcome. However, you should not exclude all meat food from the diet at once. E250 preservative in the recommended doses does not do harm to human health. In addition, this preservative protects products from their damage by bacteria. In particular it holds development in products of dangerous bacteria of a sort of klostridiya, namely Clostridium botulinum which are the causative agent of botulism. This disease leads to damage of nervous system. The norm for nitrite of sodium recognized a dosage of only 50 mg on kilogram of a ready-made product.
Other areas of application of nitrite of sodium
Besides the food industry, nitrite of sodium found the application in construction, as antifrosty additive for monolithic parts of combined and monolithic designs. Very often it is used for production of diazodyes and for processing of metal surfaces. Being fine inhibitor of corrosion on the properties, earlier it was used as reagent and antioxidant in the photo. In medicine and veterinary science found application as laxative and spazmolitichesky means. In spite of the fact that nitrite of sodium is rather toxic and flammable substance, it is very widespread and is used everywhere. Though its toxic properties are proved long ago, the food industry cannot refuse it due to the lack of worthy analogs.