# data[].attributes.headline
The other point of view: can synthetic be better for you than natural

# data[].attributes.subject
The other point of view: can synthetic be better for you than natural

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We consumers are bombarded with advertisements for natural and organic products. There are websites and news stories beyond counting dedicated to sharing the following message: "man-made is bad and natural is good". The growing popularity of this belief shows that this subject is in dire need of clarification.

The idea that nature can harm us is not new. Have you ever heard of malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, botulism or tetanus? Why, then, are so many convinced that anything and everything natural is healthier for us than synthetic products? It's true that modern chemistry has brought us a number of toxic chemicals, like DDT and dioxins, but do you really think that nature's chemicals are any less harmful to you? In fact, the most toxic chemicals to humans are completely natural! Not only that, but there is much evidence that natural pesticides allowed in organic farming are just as toxic as synthetic pesticides. It would be wonderful if it were simply a black versus white topic.

Unfortunately, the natural versus synthetic debate falls very much in the gray region, and each and every chemical, or class of chemicals, must be considered on a case by case basis. To make the situation more frustrating, the number of useful and accessible resources for consumers is limited, since the majority of the "information" on the internet and in the news is unfounded and unreferenced. It's no wonder that this idea has been able to take hold so well! The purpose of this post is to briefly discuss the most common misunderstandings about natural and synthetic chemicals:

1. Synthetic chemicals are more toxic than natural chemicals.

2. Organically grown food is better for you because it's all natural.

3. Synthetic copies of natural chemicals are not as good for you.

I want to quickly mention that I neglected to point out the natural versus synthetic substitute controversies. The present poster products for this topic are sweeteners, and this is being covered by my colleague on our blog.

Before we get to the nitty gritty points we need some definitions since there is a huge discrepancy between what the terms "natural" and "synthetic" mean. This Venn Diagram helps to explain my definitions of natural, naturally derived and synthetic chemicals:

Natural vs. Synthetic Venn Diagram: Natural chemicals are produced by nature without any human intervention. Synthetic chemicals are made by humans using methods different than those nature uses, and these chemical structures may or may not be found in nature. This definition means a synthetic chemical can be made from a natural product (i.e. naturally derived). Note that in the food industry, "artificial" is used instead of "synthetic".
Misconception 1: Synthetic chemicals are more toxic than natural chemicals.
The two most toxic chemicals for humans, that we know of, are botulinum toxin and tetanospasmin. Botulism is caused by botulinum toxin, which is a protein and neurotoxin produced by bacteria spores. Tetanospasmin is a neurotoxin produced by bacteria that causes Tetanus. I created a bar graph to help us visualize the relative toxicities of the most toxic natural and synthetic chemicals to humans:

This graph shows that the most toxic natural chemical, botulinum toxin is over a million times more toxic than all of the synthetic chemicals, except dioxin. I apologize because the scale does not visually depict the relative amount of dioxin accurately, which is 0.00001 on this scale, but it still shows that even dioxin is substantially less toxic (about one hundred thousand times less)! The data, resources and further information about the chemicals shown in the bar graph can be found on my website.

This point is summed up well by researchers in California who studied natural and synthetic chemicals in the human diet in 2001 and wrote, "Among the agents identified as human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research in Cancer 62% occur naturally: 16 are natural chemicals, 11 are mixtures of natural chemicals, and 10 are infectious agents. Thus, the idea that a chemical is "safe" because it is natural, is not correct "
Misconception 2: Organically grown food is better for you because it's all natural
What are your thoughts on organic farming? Do you think it's healthier for us to eat? I wonder how many people who are pro-organic produce are aware of what organic farming entails, and that it still involves toxic chemicals? Before I go further, I need to mention that the amount of toxic chemicals, whether they are synthetic or natural, in our produce is negligible compared to other negative chemical and biological species we are exposed to. However, I see and hear people talk and write all the time about eating organic produce because it has less toxic chemicals so I feel compelled to include this. It is true that there are, and have been, a plethora of horrifying synthetic chemicals used in the agricultural industry, especially pesticides. These toxic chemicals are very important from an environmental perspective (leaching into soil and water, impacting animal life in the surrounding areas, etc.), but that is a whole other topic for discussion.

Organic farming can still use naturally derived pesticides - in fact, they can even use some synthetic pesticides too! If you don't believe me feel free to peruse the USDA's list of " Materials for Organic Crop Production". Research studies have shown that both organic and conventional food have the same nutritional content, and both contain residues of synthetic pesticides (albeit organic food does have less of these than conventional foods). There is much less known about the toxicity of natural and naturally derived pesticides, but some studies show that they can be just as harmful and carcinogenic. A risk assessment review of natural and synthetic pesticides has a great summary to conclude this point:

"1. The biological activity of a chemical is a function of its structure rather than its origin.

2. The biological properties, especially safety, of a chemical depend on its structure and the way in which the chemical is used (i.e. exposure).

3. Perceived risks are not always consistent with actual risks."

Further reading on organic and conventional foods: Review article on organically grown food, Study of carcinogenicity of naturally derived and synthetic pesticides.
Misconception 3: Synthetic copies of natural chemicals are not as good for you.
The chemical structure of a synthesized compound is exactly the same as the natural compound it is supposed to supplement, such as ascorbic acid, which is the primary form of Vitamin C. It will taste the same, smell the same, and it will function the same in your body. This is true for most cases, however sometimes there are additional and unintended products. For example, naturally derived Vitamin E is called d-α-tocopherol and synthetic Vitamin E is called dl-α -tocopherol. The difference between the two is that the "dl" refers to a mixture of both d- and l-α-tocopherol. There is no evidence that the "l" version is harmful to the human body at all, but it is about 1.4times less effective than naturally derived Vitamin E ( Research Article). Since this is a debated topic, it's understandable that consumers may want to stick to natural sources of Vitamin E, but it does not mean that synthetic Vitamin E is toxic.

Inactive ingredients may differ between natural and synthetic products, such as additives, fillers, by-products, and additional naturally extracted chemicals (these may be active but are not the target compound) in naturally derived products. These are important to consider in any product, whether it is naturally derived or synthetic. For example, a number of synthetic food colorings have been banned due to suspected carcinogenicity.

Melatonin and butterbur extracts are interesting examples of naturally derived products that consumers must be wary of are. Melatonin is a popular natural "sleep aid", and naturally derived melatonin comes from the pineal glands of animals, which may contain viral material. Synthetic melatonin is molecularly exactly the same, and is much safer to take.

Butterbur are plants that contain an anti-inflammatory compound called petasin, which is a natural remedy for migraine treatment and prevention. Unfortunately, butterbur plants also contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that can cause severe liver damage, and thus it's important that butterbur extract is purified to remove PAs.

For further reading on synthetic versus natural chemicals, and to learn more about their syntheses, you should check out chapter 4 "Are NPs Different from Synthetic Chemicals?" in Richard Firn's Nature's Chemicals: The Natural Products that shaped our world.

Have I convinced you that natural vs. Synthetic chemicals is a gray matter?

We all have to accept that the natural vs synthetic chemical debate is not a black vs white issue, and it is actually a complicated and massive gray matter. Both natural and synthetic chemicals need to be considered on a case by case basis for our personal health, whether it's a drug, a food additive, or the pesticides being used on our crops.

Photo Credits: Oranges in the Venn Diagram by Evan-Amos Wikimedia Commons; Fruit in Venn Diagram by Marisa DeMeglio (Flickr) via Wikimedia Commons; Wine Making in Venn Diagram by Crosslers (Flickr) via Wikimedia Commons.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Natural versus Synthetic Chemicals Is a Gray Matter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We consumers are bombarded with advertisements for natural and organic products. There are websites and news stories beyond counting dedicated to sharing the following message: "man-made is bad and natural is good". The growing popularity of this belief shows that this subject is in dire need of clarification.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many people don't get enough nutrients from the diet alone ().

Currently, over half of the US population takes synthetic nutrients like multivitamins ().

However, there has been much debate over whether synthetic nutrients provide the same benefits as natural nutrients.

Some sources even suggest that synthetic nutrients may be dangerous.

This article takes an objective look at the science on synthetic and natural nutrients.

Here's the difference between natural and synthetic nutrients:

Natural nutrients: These are obtained from whole food sources in the diet.

Synthetic nutrients: Also referred to as isolated nutrients, these are usually made artificially, in an industrial process.

Synthetic nutrients do not include "whole food supplements," which are made from concentrated, dehydrated whole foods.
The majority of supplements available on the market today are made artificially. These include vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and amino acids, among others.

They can be taken in pill, capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form, and are made to mimic the way natural nutrients act in our bodies.

To figure out if your supplement is synthetic or natural, check the label. Natural supplements usually list food sources or are labeled as 100% plant or animal-based.

Supplements that list nutrients individually, such as vitamin C, or use chemical names like ascorbic acid, are almost certainly synthetic.

Bottom Line: Synthetic nutrients are dietary supplements made artificially in a laboratory setting or industrial process. Natural nutrients are those found in whole foods.

The accepted view is that synthetic nutrients are almost chemically identical to those found in food.

However, the production process of synthetic nutrients is very different to the way plants and animals create them. So despite having a similar structure, your body may react differently to synthetic nutrients.

Additionally, it's unclear how well synthetic nutrients are absorbed and used in the body. Some may be more easily absorbed, not others ().

This is because when you eat real food, you're not consuming single nutrients, but rather a whole range of vitamins, minerals, co-factors and enzymes that allow for optimal use by the body.

Without these additional compounds, synthetic nutrients are unlikely to be used by the body in the same way as their natural counterparts ().

For example, studies show that natural vitamin E is absorbed twice as efficiently as synthetic vitamin E ().

Bottom Line: It is unclear how well synthetic nutrients are absorbed and used in the body. Your body will use nutrients best when taken in whole food form, with a wide variety of food compounds.

Natural whole foods may help manage and prevent heart disease, diabetes, cancer and early death.

These benefits have been linked to the wide range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and fatty acids found in whole foods.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables provide us with fiber, vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, which are thought to be responsible for many health benefits.

Observational studies show that higher fruit and vegetable intake is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and some brain disorders (, , ).

Increased fruit intake is also linked to lower blood pressure, reduced oxidative stress and improved blood sugar control (, ).

One review found that for each daily portion of fruit or vegetables consumed, the risk of heart disease decreased by 4-7% ().

Oily Fish

Scientists believe that the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish are responsible for improved heart health.

Many large observational studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and death from heart disease (, , , ).

One study of more than 40,000 males aged 40-75 found that those who regularly ate one or more servings of fish per week had a 15% lower risk of heart disease ().

Beans and Legumes

Experts believe that the high soluble fiber content and the wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in beans and legumes may help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers (, , ).

Eating one serving of legumes like beans, peas and chickpeas each day has been linked to 5% lower LDL cholesterol levels and a 5-6% lower risk of heart disease ().

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are high in antioxidants, minerals and healthy fats. They have been associated with a reduced risk of early death, heart disease and diabetes (, ).

One review found that 4 weekly servings of nuts was linked to a 28% lower risk of heart disease, and 22% lower risk of diabetes ().

Whole Grains

Whole grains contain many valuable nutrients, including fiber, B vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium and selenium.

Whole grain consumption has also been associated with protection against cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity ().

Bottom Line: Evidence supports the idea that natural nutrients found in whole foods can prevent against a wide range of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and premature death.

Although it's clear that natural nutrients are associated with many health benefits, the evidence for synthetic supplements is mixed.

Multivitamins

Some observational studies have found multivitamin use to be associated with a lower risk of heart disease and cancer (, , , , ).

However, other studies have found no effect (, , , , , ).

Some even link multivitamin use to increased cancer risk (, , , ).

One large study looked into the effects of a high-dose multivitamin on heart health. After almost 5 years, the study found that multivitamins had no beneficial effect ().

However, several other studies have linked multivitamin supplements to improved memory in older adults (, , , ).

Nevertheless, the Physicians' Health Study II found that 12 years of daily multivitamin use did not affect brain function or memory for men over 65 ().

Single and Paired Vitamins

One review found no clear evidence that single or paired supplements benefit heart disease ().

However, some previous studies suggest that B vitamins like folic acid may improve brain function ().

Yet other strong studies report that dietary supplements, including B vitamins, do not improve brain function (, ).

Despite knowing that adequate vitamin D levels are critical for good health and disease prevention, vitamin D supplements are also under much scrutiny (, ).

Vitamin D supplements have been linked to numerous benefits related to cancer, bone health and brain function, to name a few. Yet experts agree more evidence is needed (, ).

One thing experts generally agree on is that vitamin D supplements, when combined with calcium, can improve bone health in older people ().

Antioxidants

Several reviews have found no evidence to support antioxidant supplements, including beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, E, and selenium (alone or in combination) for reduced risk of death and cancer (, ).

In fact, beta-carotene supplements have been shown to increase the risk of cancer in smokers ().

Nonetheless, antioxidant vitamins and minerals may help slow down the progression of diseases that cause blindness. However, more research is needed (, ).

Bottom Line: Studies about the beneficial health effects of many synthetic nutrients have been inconsistent, weak or shown no effect.

There is no clear evidence to suggest that most synthetic nutrients are beneficial for healthy, well-nourished people.

However, there are certain groups who may benefit from supplementing with synthetic nutrients. These include:

The elderly: This group tends to be at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency and may also need more vitamin B12 and calcium for bone health (, ).

Vegans and vegetarians: As certain vitamins and minerals are found mainly in animal products, this group is often at a high risk of deficiency for vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, iron and vitamin D (, ).

Pregnant and breastfeeding women: These women may have to supplement their diet with extra vitamins and/or minerals (such as vitamin D) and avoid others (such as vitamin A) ().

Women of childbearing age: This group is often encouraged to take a folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of neural tube defects if they do become pregnant. However, taking more than you need may have some risks.

People with nutrient deficiencies: Certain dietary supplements may treat nutritional deficiencies, such as iron supplements for treating iron deficiency anaemia ().

Bottom Line: For certain groups of people at risk of nutritional deficiencies, certain synthetic supplements can be beneficial.

In general, taking supplements according to the amounts directed on the package is safe for most people.

However, the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. Therefore, supplement fraud can occur.

This means that supplements can contain more or less nutrients than stated on the label. Others may contain substances not listed on the label.

If you already consume a wide range of nutrients through your diet, taking extra supplements can exceed the recommended daily intake of many nutrients.

When taken in excess, water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins are flushed out of the body through your urine. However, fat-soluble vitamins -- vitamins A, D, E, and K -- may be stored in the body. This means that there is a risk of them accumulating to high levels, leading to hypervitaminosis.

Pregnant women need to be especially careful with their vitamin A intake, as excess amounts have been linked to birth defects ().

Results from many clinical trials show that beta-carotene, vitamin E, and possibly high doses of vitamin A can increase the risk of premature death (, ).

Other studies have linked multivitamin use to increased cancer risk, and iron supplements can be harmful for people who don't need them (, , , ).

There is also some evidence that synthetic folic acid is more harmful than the natural folate in foods. It may build up in the body and raise the risk of cancer (, , ).

Bottom Line: Taking large amounts of synthetic nutrients can have harmful health effects. Recommended daily doses are safe for most people, but caution is advised.

Research consistently shows that synthetic nutrients are no replacement for a healthy, balanced diet.

Getting natural nutrients from whole foods is always a better option.

However, if you are truly lacking in a specific nutrient, then taking a supplement can be beneficial.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Synthetic vs Natural Nutrients: Does it Matter?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Many people don't get enough nutrients from the diet alone (). Currently, over half of the US population takes synthetic nutrients like multivitamins (). However, there has been much debate over whether synthetic nutrients provide the same benefits as natural nutrients. Some sources even suggest that synthetic nutrients may be dangerous.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lab-To-Table: How Synthetic Food Went From Flavorings To Hamburgers | Mach | NBC News

# data[].attributes.body
How Synthetic Leather is Made

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser. To view this site, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options and try again.

Jump to main content

What is the difference between synthetic and natural materials? How are synthetic materials made?

About This Video

Grade level: 6-10
Length: <4 minutes
Next Generation Science Standards: PS1.A, PS1.B, ESS3.C, ETS1.B
Video Discussion Questions:

1. How is a synthetic material different from a natural one?

2. What are some examples of synthetic materials?

3. Where do the raw materials for making synthetic materials come from?

4. Are synthetic materials good for the environment? Bad for the environment?

5. Do synthetic materials benefit society? Why or why not?

Vocabulary for students

Polymer Pursuits

Below you'll find activities related to synthetic materials to use in your classroom:

Biopolymers, Inc.

Plastic is durable and long-lasting, making it useful for packaging things like food, but not so good for the environment. Plastic in landfills can take hundreds of years to degrade, and plastic debris in the ocean is a threat to marine life.

Traditional plastic is made from petroleum, but there is a movement now to make plastics from more renewable-and in some cases biodegradable-organic sources, like vegetable fats. These 'bioplastics,' or biopolymers, can come in various forms with various physical properties. Knowing what kind of biopolymer would work best for a particular use is a creative design challenge!
Carrying Out Investigations and Designing Solutions
Present students with the following scenario: You have just started your own biopolymer company. The purpose of your company is to design and engineer plastic-like materials that are more environmentally-friendly than traditional petroleum-based plastics.
Part 1, Materials Testing: How does changing the formula of a biopolymer change its physical characteristics? Part 2, Application: Which biopolymer formula would be best suited for your company's product? Teacher's Guide for Part 1 & Part 2 Student Worksheets for Part 1 & Part 2 Photo credit: USDA This lesson is based on a module created in collaboration between The Teaching Channel and Boeing: Polymers for the Planet.
In the first part of this design challenge, students will create various biopolymer materials using different combinations of starches with glycerine, a plasticizer. The goal of this activity is to, as a class, produce a variety of different kinds of biopolymers with differing physical properties. Students should work in groups of 3-4.

In the second part of this design challenge, students will use the data they collected from Part 1 to design a biopolymer product line for their company. Students must decide what biopolymer physical properties (and thus formulas) are desirable for their particular product and why.

Comparing Environmental Footprints: Natural vs. Synthetic Fibers

Some synthetic materials like polyester fabric are not great for the environment in that they can take a long time to degrade in landfills after they are thrown away. But what is the environmental impact of producing these synthetics, compared to more natural materials?
Teacher Prep
The figures in this activity come from the Ecological Footprint and Water Analysis of Cotton, Hemp, and Polyester report by Cherrett et al. In this activity, students will be learning about ecological footprints. The WWF defines 'ecological footprint' as the impact of human activities measured in terms of the area of biologically productive land and water required (often reported in global hectares) to produce the goods consumed and to assimilate the wastes generated. More simply, it is the amount of the environment necessary to produce the goods and services necessary to support a particular lifestyle.
Analyzing and Interpreting Data Activity
1. Write the following Focus Question on the board: How does the environmental footprint of producing natural fibers, like cotton, compare to the environmental footprint of producing synthetic fibers, like polyester?

2. Review the concept of a 'supply chain' with your students. See Visual 1 from this lesson by the Council for Economic Education.

3. As a class, think about how cotton and polyester clothes are made. What are the raw materials? Where do they come from? How are they transformed into clothing? What resources are needed for this transformation (e.g. land, water, energy, etc.)? Make a list of brainstormed processes and resources on the board.

4. Have students write in their science notebooks whether they think cotton or polyester is more environmentally-friendly to produce, and why.

5. Hand out a set of Ecological Footprint Figures to each pair of students. Each student should individually spend about 3-5 minutes analyzing each of the Figures and writing down observations in their notebooks.

Here are some questions you can write on the board to help your students analyze and interpret the information in the Figures:

What do the bars on the graph represent? What information are they telling you? What do the different colors on the graph represent?

What is the variable on the y-axis? What information is on the x-axis?

What are some observations you can make from the graph? What are some interpretations you can make? What is the difference between an observation and an interpretation?

6. With their partner, students should spend about 10 minutes discussing what they learned from the Figures and deciding together what their answer to the Focus Question is and why.

7. Ask students to share their answers to the Focus Question. Then, hand out an Overall Ecological Footprint Figure to each pair and lead a class discussion on the environmental footprints of synthetic vs. natural materials.

What do you notice/observe about this figure?

Why do you think the overall Ecological Footprints of these fibers are expressed in global hectares?

What other factors are considered in the overall ecological footprint other than carbon emissions and energy requirements?

Which fibers have a smaller overall ecological footprint? Why do you think this is?

How does the fiber production compare to the crop cultivation for various fibers in terms of their environmental footprint?

Are there any fibers that had low CO₂ emissions or energy requirements but large ecological footprints?

Extension: Hand out copies of the figures on page 17 of the report, and have your students explore in more detail the ecological footprint of each step involved in the production of cotton and hemp (the supply chains).

Connections to the Next Generation Science Standards

While this video doesn't necessarily cover the following standards in depth, it is a compelling resource you can use to supplement your curriculum that does.
Disciplinary Core Ideas (Grades 6-8)
PS1.A: Structures and Properties of Matter
PS1.B: Chemical Reactions
ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
Crosscutting Concepts (Grades 6-8)
Structure and Function
Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation

Exploring Energy: About This Unit

Energy is an important part of our everyday lives. We use energy to cook, get around, and send emails. In this unit, we'll explore the issues associated with fossil fuels and how people are coming up with innovative sustainable energy alternatives for a brighter future.

Additional Resources

Turning food waste into tires
Learn how researchers at The Ohio State University are experimenting with replacing petroleum-based filler in the rubber used to make tires with eggshells and tomato peels.

Science News for Students: What are polymers?
Learn more about polymers and their properties and what impacts they can have on the environment over time.

Close

The Academy needs your support.

Please contribute to the Academy Relief Fund today to support world-class research and science outreach, expert care and enrichment for our nearly 40,000 live animals, and fresh educational resources at a time when young minds need them most.

Donate Now

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What is the difference between synthetic and natural materials? How are synthetic materials made?

# data[].attributes.body
Natural vs. Synthetic Materials