2008 “Unfounded” Health Headlines May be 2009’s As Well
Submitted by Dr. Gwenn Is In
Have you ever heard a health headline on the news and said to yourself “you’ve got to be kidding? That can’t be right!” We’ve all had those moments. In fact, there were a bunch in 2008 that Elizabeth Whelan, President of the American Council on Science and Health, noted Unfounded health headlines in the Washington Times last week.
I share Whelan’s concern about the headlines she notes. Each and every one of the topics on her list was raised in the media as a “scare” or “concern” by the media either on TV, print or online and resulted in people becoming fearful of the issues being discussed. What was often not made clear in the media, however, was that science was not on the side of proof for the safety of the issue.
You can read Whelan’s article in full but I’ll give you the list of the ten issues and a few comments so you can have them. Keep in mind that most of these headlines were very sensationalistic and the data the alarmist groups used based on animal data only. And, for each of these issues, we actually have true science supporting the safety in humans!
Here we go!
1. Phthalates in plastics, cosmetics, shampoos, lotions. Whelan pointed out that headlines were popping up such as “Plastic shower curtains can mean curtains for you.” Real science, in my opinion, doesn’t need to draw you in with a sensationalistic headline.
2. Bisphenol-A(BPA) in hard plastics as a liner. This created the baby bottle scare and is based on animal data. To date, no true science to support concern, although there are BPA-free products now as an alternative.
3. Cell phones might cause brain cancer.
4. Coffee shrinks breasts. Any headline that could be from Letterman or Leno, we should take with a grain of salt!
5. Toxic bras. Ditto my late night comment here!
6. “Tap water has traces of medicine”. Traces of stuff in water doesn’t mean health risk.
7. “Toxic toys“. While we did have some lead concerns with some toys last year, that doesn’t mean all toys are toxic. Let’s not go hunting for toxins where there are none.
8. Vaccines causing autism. I’m with Whelan on the facts. Vaccines are safe. Vaccines don’t cause autism. Those are the facts.
9. Dioxins in Irish pork caused concerns over “contaminated meat”. I missed this headline but it’s a good example of how the media picks up on a topic and runs in the wrong direction.
10. Granite countertops and “dangerous radiation”. As Whelan noted, “another example of the media highlighting scares with no scientific basis as a way of attracting attention in a crowded market.”
We live in a worry-fulled time. People seem to almost seek out ways to be concerned. My advice, worry not. Live your life and control what you can control. If a health headline sounds odd, it likely is.Whelan’s conclusion sums this entire situation up the best: “When it comes to health scares, consumers should eat, drink and be wary of the scares that will start up again in 2009.”
2009 will have its own unique health headlines. Let’s focus on the ones that matter and stop worrying about the ones that seem like something out of a Hollywood movie or Grey’s Anatomy plot!
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January 3rd, 2009 at 5:58 am
Nice post. Thanks for sharing with us.