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"Probing Disease Clusters: Easier to Spot Than Prove" (1/31/99) From Gina Kolata in the New York Times: "Huge amounts of money" have gone to study disease clusters where the suspected cause was tiny amounts of chemicals, he added, and so far, "nothing has come of it."
"PVC flooring may cause child asthma" (1/31/99) This study reports that PVC flooring, but NOT PVC wallcovering, is weakly associated with asthma in children. In response to the logical inquiry "Why floors, but not walls?", the study authors say a young child's "breathing zone is close to the floor." Give me a break. Walls and ceilings have more surface area than floors (4 times more in a 10' by 10' room) and so they are a much greater source of emissions. And whatever PVC emissions from walls/ceilings are, they're probably heavier than air and quite available for inhalation by children. If an association actually existed, it should have shown up in the analysis of PVC wall coverings. The study authors say "To our knowledge there is little previous empirical evidence of an increased risk of bronchial obstruction or asthma related to interior materials in the indoor environment." It is doubtful that their inconsistent weak associations coupled with lame physics adds to this already thin database.
"Levi Strauss building abandoned after 7 women working there are diagnosed with breast cancer" (1/31/99) "The feeling among employees was that there was a hex on the bulding."
"JAMA board member quits to protest firing of editor " (1/31/99) First Lundberg. Now Lindberg. Who's next? Landberg?
"Debunking Internet health rumors " (1/31/99) Aren't Associated Press reports just Internet rumors?
"Consumer anger at secret shelf life of new milk" (1/31/99) Only the English could come up with a phrase as wonderful as "There seems to be a lot of jiggery pokery going on." From the Sunday Telegraph (UK).
"MPs dined on fake 'organic' chicken" (1/31/99) Last week's special was "jellied eels." Now that's something to get upset about. From the Independent (UK).
"Flap Over 'Public Science'" (1/30/99) NIH Director Harold Varmus objects to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete V. Domenici's (R-N.M.) idea that there be some accountability for monies spent at NIH.
Hillary goes after asthma? (1/30/99) If Hillary really wanted to fight asthma, why would she assign the lead role to the EPA, an agency with limited scientific capability and little expertise in asthma? Or are the real goals to: (1) develop anti-industry sentiment among communities, parents and children and (2) funnel cash to political allies?
"Warm weather, darn it" (1/30/99) The Florida Times-Union editorializes "Winter has arrived and temperatures are balmy. It must be global warming. Or, it could be Florida."
"Washington Seeking To Grab Control of Western Water" (1/29/99) The New Mexico State Engineer wants more money for his office so he can update scientific understanding of water systems and ward off federal intrusion.
"Study finds no thyroid harm from Hanford N-tests" (1/29/99) "A federal health study released today on the effects of radiation emitted at the Hanford nuclear reservation in the 1940s and '50s shows there is no correlation between exposure and the incidence of thyroid disease in those who were living nearby."
Secondhand smoke and appendicits in children (1/28/99)
The Lancet (Jan. 30) reports that adult smoking and child exposure to passive smoke are statistically associated with increased rates of appendicitis. But this is one small study with weak statistical associations. Moreover, since no one knows what causes appendicitis -- making it difficult to address confounding factors -- I must agree with the authors who state "these results do not prove a causal relation between smoking and appendicitis."BMJ puts Gulf War Syndrome on life support (1/28/99) This British Medical Journal editorial says "A growing consensus is emerging from the clinical and epidemiological evidence that there is no Gulf War syndrome -- though a rare medical condition in a small subgroup of Gulf War veterans cannot be excluded conclusively." Click here for the study prompting the editorial.
China moves to head off junk science scares (1/28/99) Nature reports (Jan. 28) that China is clamping down on false earthquake warnings. Last week, China issued new regulations that will require a "high scientific standard of reasoning" behind all earthqauke predictions. Penalities (unspecified) will be imposed on violators. Nature reports that earthquake prediction was introduced as a national priority in China during the cultural revolution. Warnings against the feasibility of earthquake prediction were viewed as a challenge to Mao's revolutionary movement. Sound familiar? Global warming? Chairman Al? Didn't Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt call global warming skeptics "un-American?"
Battle of the journals over Parkinson's disease (1/28/99) This week's British Medical Journal contains a clinical review article stating "There is increasing evidence for a genetic component in the cause of Parkinson's disease." The statement contrasts with this week's rep ort in the Journal of the American Medical Association trashing the genetic component in favor of chemicals.
"ACSH Debunks Internet Health Hoax" (1/28/99) ACSH takes on the mysterious, but ubiquitous e-mail about aspartame.
A lot of rot from Lawrie Mott (1/28/99) Click here for today's L.A. Times editorial on kids and chemicals from NRDC senior scientist (whatever that means) Lawrie Mott. Click here to get the facts straight.
AGU position statement on climate change (1/28/99) The American Geophysical Union (or at least its leadership) has joined the ranks of the Al Gore-ons. Too bad the membership never voted on the position statement. The AGU recommends action on greenhouse gases even while acknowledging "The increase in global mean surface temperatures over the past 150 years appears to be unusual in the context of the last few centuries, but it is not clearly outside the range of climate variability of the last few thousand years." Click here for info from the Science and Environmental Policy Project.
"Smokers over analysed: Studies now make them a higher divorce risk, etc. etc." (1/28/99) "One could hardly flick on the tube or turn a page in a newspaper last week without running into new studies on smoking. "
"Suspect: Iced Tea Made Me Do It" (1/28/99) "The iced tea made me do it."
"G.E.'s Comments on Disposal of PCB's Draw Objections" (1/28/99) The enviros object to a good idea simply because they don't like the source.
Ketchup foundation awards hysterics (1/28/99) The Heinz Foundation awards $250,000 to Lois Gibbs (of Love Canal fame) and a Louisiana enviro.
"It's all about the money" (1/28/99) The Competitive Enterprise Institute's Sam Kazman writes in USA Today (Jan. 27): "From pediatric disease to profit center - that, in a nutshell, is how smoking has changed in the eyes of the anti-tobacco warriors."
L.A. Times reporter: 'Chemicals are not a stretch' (1/28/99) That's Thomas Maugh's defense for yesterday's alarmist headline about chemicals and Parkinson disease.
"Big Melt May Bring Big Freeze" (1/27/99) The Reuters reporter apparently forgot to ask why there was no catastrophic ice shelf melting during earlier global temperature increases.
"The Week That Was January 18-24, 1999" (1/27/99) The weekly update from The Science & Environmental Policy Project.
"Chemicals Called Main Cause of Parkinson's " (1/27/99) Disgusting journalism. Click here for my letter to the Los Angeles Times.
"Climatologist: Global warming theory based on skewed data" (1/27/99) Climatologist Harry Hillaker tells Iowa legislators "I think we're measuring urbanization, not global warming."
"The Great Global Weatherscam" (1/27/99) By Alan Caruba of the National Anxiety Center.
Auto recall shakedown tactics II (1/27/99) This note was received from a staff member of the Federal Highway Administration in response to this Eric Peters column in the Washington Times (Jan. 26)..
New CMA science initiatives (1/27/99) Click here and here for announcements about a new science initiative by the Chemical Manufacturers Association.
Devra Lee Davis Watch (1/27/99) Devra Lee Davis was her wacky self at a a presentation she made at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. According to a source present, Davis' claims were so wild that the reporters were grumbling about it in the hall. She asserted that the particulate matter that children in some Chinese and Indian cities inhale is "the same as smoking two packs of cigarettes per day."
"Americans overestimate disease, danger risk " (1/27/99) From Anne Fennell: "ouldn't it be wonderful if this kind of news took over the front pages? It'd put Koop and Kompany out of work -- not to mention Browner and Brownell."
"AMA Editors Support Fired Editor" (1/27/99) No one said that the JAMA problem ended with former editor Lundberg. Looks like more housecleaning is in order. What Lundberg did was attempt to use the prestige of his medical journal to influence purely political debate. This is "abuse of discretion" not "editorial independence."
"Global warming has you down? Then wait 5 minutes" (1/27/99) A Detroit News op-ed by Leonard Evans, a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Testicular cancer linked to endocrine disrupters (1/26/99) Well, not really. After all, how reliable is a conclusion based on a weak statistical association from an ecologic study? Also, a credible explanation for the reported increase in rate of testicular cancer between 1964 and 1996 exists -- i.e., improved detection and reporting. Click here for the abstract. Click here for the accompanying editorial.
" No decline in US sperm counts" (1/26/99) "Contrary to the results of previous studies, American men's sperm counts are not on the decline, researchers report. They believe an over-reliance on studies based in New York City -- where sperm counts are higher than average -- has led experts to the misconception that the fertility of the American male is under threat."
If you follow the radon controversy... (1/26/99) The Feb. 1 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology contains a study by Lagarde/Pershagen claiming that ecologic studies of radon should be given little weight in pondering the overall evidence. This study is a direct attack at Bernie Cohen's ecologic study reporting that areas of the U.S with higher levels of radon have less lung cancer.
"$4B Sought To Combat Global Warming" (1/26/99) President Caligula proposes to double our fun with global warming. Wasn't he was going to "save social security first?" I guess payoffs to keep the global warming fires stoked are more improtant.
Is Jonathan Samet a public health all-star? (1/26/99) The dean of the Hopkins School of Public Health thinks Samet's work on radon, air pollution and secondhand smoke ranks with the greatest accomplishments in public health.
"State of defiance; Ohio right to stand up to feds on smog rules" (1/26/99) The Columbus Dispatch editorializes that "Ohio has taken a sound, solid stand for states' rights and against faulty science and unfunded federal mandates."
"Alabama challenging new EPA ozone rules in court" (1/26/99) Congratulations to Alabama for standing up to EPA junk science. As a state official put it, "Certainly emissions in Alabama have some effects in air quality anywhere in the world. But we think that effect falls off into insignificance very quickly at roughly the state borders."
"Auto recall shakedown tactics" (1/26/99) The Washington Times' Eric Peters describes the latest corporate shakedown by the EPA.
BP officially ends Amoco's battle against global warming (1/26/99) Here is President Caligula's praise of BP for officially ending Amoco's opposition to global warming hysteria.
"Warm day brings flood of theories" (1/26/99) Find out what people are saying about an unusally warm day in Boston.
"Worried to death" (1/26/99) An Intellectualcapital.com article by the Cato Institute's Stephen Moore.
"School Hits It Big in Science Contest" (1/25/99) Congratulations to the high school kids who came up winners in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. Back in 1977, I made the Honors List of this contest when it was known as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search.
"High Court Rejects Sampling In Census" (1/26/99) Washington Post coverage of yesterday's momentous decision separating politics from science.
Supreme Court rejects census samping (1/25/99) A victory for the separation of politics from science.
Rudy Baum: A mirror of junk science? (1/25/99) Chemical and Engineering News managing editor Rudy Baum "reflects" instead of "absorbs" facts on global warming.
Chemical industry wraps up facts for Marian Burros (1/25/99) Here is the response of the Chemical Manufacturers Association to a recent article by the New York Times' Marian Burros about plastic wrap and endocrine disrupers.
"Scientific Irregularity" (1/24/99) The Detroit News editorializes "Much as we prefer certainty in all we do, science cannot deliver all the answers all the time. The scientific method is more tedious than swift, better suited to disproving falsehood than determining truth."
"Science, Hype and Profit: a Perilous Mix" (1/24/99) From the Los Angeles Times: "With 'newsy' or moneymaking research often eclipsing worthy studies, some say highly touted findings that don't hold up are eroding public trust."
"Handguns and Hired Guns" (1/24/99) George Will writes in the Washington Post: "What about the welfare of children, which is today's reason of first resort for Advocates of government action? Considering that bicycles, space heaters, swimming pools and cigarette lighters each kill more children under 15 than are killed annually by gun accidents (200 in 1996), most of the approximately 80 million Americans who own 200 million to 240 million guns must be quite careful."
"Children's Health" (1/24/99) The Indianapolis Star editorializes about new Washington University study that "... challenges the wisdom of portraying the environment as a detriment to the well-being of children. In doing so, researchers insist, more serious health risks are overlooked and more promising health-related efforts go unfunded."
"U.S. reaffirms safety of Monsanto milk drug" (1/24/99) The St. Louis Post- Dispatch reports Donna Shalala rejects Vermont senators' appeals to pull BST from the market.
"County Ponders Its Battle Plan for Fire Ant War" (1/23/99) But the enviros oppose use of pesticides to rid Orange County, California of the agressive, stinging ants.
"Tiny Planet Pluto May Be Kicked Out of Solar System 9" (1/23/99) Mr. Vem J. Sun's dog is about to be euthanized?
"The EU labels itself incompetent" (1/23/99) Henry I. Miller writes in the Wall Street Journal Europe "The EU's directives on labeling [biotech products] deserve a label of their own: unscientific, misleading and silly."
"EPA to target Southeast Asians for education on dioxins in river" (1/23/99) Ho Chi Minh would have been proud of Carol Browner's EPA.
"Deceiving numbers; Breast cancer risk often overestimated" (1/23/99) A good article from the Chicago Sun-Times.
"Study finds coffee may help battle colon cancer" (1/23/99) While trashing the long-held belief that high consumption of dietary fiber reduces colon cancer risk, Nurses Health Study junk scientists now research coffee as a colon cancer fighter.
"Secondhand smoke and statistical analysis" (1/23/99) Anne Fennell strikes again; this time in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Maternal smoking and childhood behavior problems (1/22/99) Did the journal editors read this study before publishing it?
AGU President ducks press inquiry on global warming statement (1/22/99) On Jan. 28, the American Geophysical Union will release a position statement on global warming. The statement is substantively and procedurally flawed. Incredibly, the position statement was not presented to the members for comment or approval. Now AGU president John Knauss has apparently refused to answer probing media inquiry. Is Knauss inappropriately interjecting a scientific society in a politial debate? Ask Knauss if he's ever heard of George Lundberg.
"Cancer Added To Hangover Headaches" (1/22/99) Just in time for Superbowl parties!
EPA proposes to classify human carcinogens based on animal data (1/22/99) Find out how the EPA plans to make it easier to classify substances as "known human carcinogens."
"The difference one word makes" (1/22/99) A good point raised by the American Council on Science and Health.
Litigate to Legislate (1/22/99) Congrats to Anne Fennell for this letter-to-the-editor in today's New York Times.
ACSH ahead of curve on dietary fiber (1/22/99) Kudos to the American Council on Science and Health for being five months ahead of the curve on dietary fiber and colon cancer.
"The firing of Brother George" (1/21/99) The British Medical Journal whines over the firing of AMA editor George Lundberg. Click here for BMJ news coverage. Can you imagine the editor of the Norwegian Medical Journal suggested that "the global community of medical journal editors establish an award for editorial integrity and name it the George D Lundberg award?"
"A One-Number Census: Some Related History" (1/21/99) Less than one week after the editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association was fired for inappropriately interjecting JAMA into a political debate, Science does the same thing. The journal has published an article advocating sampling for the year 2000 Census. The Supreme Court is currently considering a challenge to the Clinton Administration from the U.S. House of Representatives and a group of taxpayers over the sampling issue. The Clinton Administration supports sampling as it would likely result in more Democrats in Congress -- allegedly, traditional census-taking techniques undercount urban populations. Since the U.S. science establishment is beholden to the federal government for funding, it supports the Clinton administration under the guise that sampling is a scientific way to achieve a more accurate population count. But even if true, the Constitution requires "actual enumeration" -- i.e., counting -- not science. The Census is related to voting. We count votes. We don't sample them. If you don't vote, you lose out. Similarly, if you don't allow yourself to be counted in the census, you lose out. The census has nothing to do with science. But the U.S. science establishment, including Science, apparently would like the public to think accuracy is paramount. AMA editor George Lundberg apparently thought he could help shape public opinion about whether President Clinton lied under oath. He learned this was inappropriate. The Science editors should get the same message. E-mail your comments to the editors of Science. Click here for today's Mike Fumento Wall Street Journal op-ed about the politization of science journals.
"Actual risk" (1/21/99) A photographic definition of "actual risk." (Thanks to Roger Bate of the European Science and Environment Forum).
"Sex, Lies and JAMA's Headache" (1/21/99) Dr. Tim Wheeler has good suggestions for JAMA in the wake of the Lundberg firing.
"UN to consider ban on 12 chemicals" (1/21/99) The U.N. wants to ban the pesticide DDT -- a chemical credited with saving about 500 million lives by the National Academy of Sciences. On the other hand, the U.N. has no plans to do away with Sadaam Hussein. Go figure.
Another EPA Superfund Fiasco (1/21/99) More money flushed down the Superfund toilet.
"Medical Journals Give New Meaning To 'Political Science'" (1/21/99) "Whether the politicization of science and medical journals is increasing... is difficult to measure. But the role these journals play is so incredibly important, the cost of malfeasance so terribly high, that politics must not be allowed to worm into the science. 'Everybody does it' is no more an excuse for our scientific gatekeepers than for our president."
Large study debunks myth dietary fiber reduces colon cancer risk (1/20/99) Click here for the abstract. Click here for the accompanying editorial. Despite this study, the Nurses Health Study remains the "perpetual junk science machine." Reporting no association is far more credible than reporting a weak association -- the usual NHS modis operandi. And, as this study notes, the only ones who have ever "validated" the NHS data are its owners. Can you imagine playing poker and never having to show your hand? Just winning with a simple "I can beat whatever you have?"
"America's poor have unfair cancer burden, study says" (1/20/99) Is "unfair" a scientific term?
"The Week That Was January 11-17, 1999" (1/20/99) The weekly update from the Science and Environmental Policy Project.
"20-year global temperature record shows warming and cooling trends" (1/20/99) "All of the global warming trend found in the 20-year temperature dataset, however, can be attributed to the major El Niño, Pacific Ocean heating event of 1997-1998, says Dr. John Christy, an associate professor of atmospheric science in UAH’s Earth System Science Laboratory."
"Breathe easy" (1/20/99) The New Scientist reports (Jan. 16) "Fears that thousands of people worldwide die each year from lung cancers caused by naturally occurring radon gas may be groundless."
"The Global Warming Crisis" (1/20/99) A parody from The Onion.
"Sex ratio after exposure to dioxin-like chemicals in Taiwan" (1/20/99) A letter from U.S. and Taiwanese researchers in The Lancet (Jan. 16) throws cold water on the endocrine disrupter theory that sex ratios have been altered by exposure to chemicals in the environment.
"Frozen out by the EPA" (1/20/99) A letter in the Washington Post says "Unfortunately, government regulators are seldom penalized for using nonscientific methods to prevent products from reaching the market. And, as usual, the "protected public" bears the consequences."
"Group Sues Plant Over Cancer Deaths" (1/20/99) The Los Angeles Times reports "A group of Bell Gardens residents who believe a local chrome-plating plant has contaminated the neighborhood with deadly toxins announced Tuesday that they are suing the company and demanded that public officials ensure the safety of the area."
"Oil Firms Sued Over Alleged Leaks" (1/20/99) The Los Angelkes Times reports "An environmental group filed a lawsuit Tuesday against more than a dozen major oil companies, accusing them of allowing dangerous chemicals to contaminate the state's water supply."
New study to attempt resurrecting breast implant controversy (1/19/99) A study to be published in Environmental Health Perspectives (February 1999) claims that cyclosiloxanes, the "predominate low molecular weight cyclic silicones in breast implants," produced fatal liver and lung damage in mice. The researchers conclude "Our findings are significant because in vitro experiments have demonstrated that cyclosiloxanes cam migrate out of breast implants, and in mouse experiments cyclosiloxanes have been shown to be widely distributed in many organs after a single subcutaneous injection and to persist for at least a year. The study was funded by Consumer Advocates for Product Safety -- an anti-implant advocacy group.
Rash of autism under investigation in New Jersey community (1/19/99) Another case in an epidemic of "cluster-itis."
Rep. Moran introduces 'Children's Environmental Protection Act' (1/19/99) Rep. Jim Moran (D- Va) introduced on Jan. 6 a bill (H.R. 199) titled the "Children's Environmental Protection Act." The bill is based on the unproven premise that children are at disproportionate risk from environmental hazards -- whatever they are.
"Science 'adjusted' to fit EPA policy" (1/19/99) My letter-to-the-editor published in today's Wall Street Journal.
"No thresholds for endocrine disrupters?" (1/18/99) Instead of studying whether thresholds exist for endocrine disrupters, let's study whether enviro researchers can satisfy the threshold of credibility.
"Fighting Fire With Facts" (1/18/99) Pat Michaels writes "I'm willing to wager two things. First, I'll bet that anyone who said global warming is an overblown bunch of hooey had a terrible time at this year's holiday cocktail parties. Second, I'll take even money that the 10 years ending on December 31, 2007, will show a statistically significant global cooling trend in temperatures measured by satellite."
"Putting the Risk of Breast Cancer in Perspective" (1/18/99) From the New England Journal of Medicine: "It is important to encourage women to participate in mammographic screening programs, which reduce the risk of death from this common and serious disease. It is equally important to describe information about risk in context so that women are not disproportionately frightened by their perceived risk of breast cancer and so that other important, preventable causes of morbidity and mortality are not overlooked."
Data access rule to be narrowly tailored (1/18/99) The Epidemiology Monitor reports (January 1999) the Office of Management and Budget "will adhere very closely to the intent of Congress in writing the [data access law.] The intent of Congress is to prevent agencies like the EPA from hiding taxpayer-funded data used to support rulemaking.
"Fix for data disclosure dilemma pursued" (1/18/99) A Chemical and Engineering News article about Rep. Deorge Brown's (D-Junk Science) effort to protect junk science.
"Another defining issue for the AMA; What does editorial independence mean?" (1/18/99) What does "academic freedom" have to do with lending the credibility of a major medical journal to indisputable junk science in a transparent attempt to influence political debate? E-mail your comments to the Chicago Tribune.
"The JAMA debacle" (1/18/99) The Washington Times editorial on the study that got Lundberg fired.
Public Citizen vs. New England Journal of Medicine on the Lundberg firing (1/18/99) Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group said the findings from the 1991 survey of 600 Indiana University students "are very interesting and very relevant." In contrast, NEJM editor Jerome Kassirer said he would not have published the article, partly because "any survey of young adults about sex -- you never are quite sure what the responses mean."
"Hoax or Blunder on Global Temperatures?" (1/17/99) Don't miss this hot editorial from Electricity Daily.
Support the firing of former AMA editor George Lundberg (1/17/99) Lundberg was more interested in publicity and politics than science. E-mail your support to the American Medical Association.
"Britain's weather: Warming to the past it was hotter for the Romans" (1/17/99) Veritas vos vomitat -- the truth will make you vomit.
"Ohio may set its own air-pollution limits" (1/17/99) Ohio decides not to choke on noxious EPA air pollution regulations.
"A scam smoked out" (1/17/99) Congratulations to Anne Fennell on this published letter-to-the editor about a recent Brill's Content article on secondhand smoke.
"Still Waiting for Cancer Maps" (1/17/99) Cancer mapping is the latest in junk science. Geographic variations in cancer rates are bound to occur simply by chance.
"U.S. lags other nations in climate studies" (1/17/99) Junk science as an Olympic event? With the Al Gore handing out $2 billion annually to scientists who support his agenda, the bribery angle certainly is covered.
"MS rate in Sugar Creek examined;Agency to study whether disease, pollutants linked" (1/17/99) Another quixotic effort to link pollution with disease based on a weak statistical association.
"Gulf War Vets Face More Illness" (1/16/99) Self-reported data result in the claim "The evidence is unequivocal that going to the Gulf affects your health." Huh?
"Canada Rejects Use of Cattle Hormone" (1/16/99) Health Canada uses junk science -- weak statistical associations -- to ban bovine growth hormone. If the Canadian government wants to ban rBST, why not just and admit anti-chemical hysteria and political correctness as the reasons?
Organic solvents and fatty liver disease (1/16/99) While we're on the topic of journal editors, what about Philip J. Landrigan, editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine?
NEJM editor on firing of AMA editor (1/16/99) About yesterday's firing of JAMA editor George Lundberg, the New York Times reports "Dr. Marcia Angell, editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, which is the chief competitor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said her journal would never have published the sex survey paper because 'it is trivial -- who cares what a bunch of college students say' about whether oral sex is sex, she said. 'It also is irrelevant to the Clinton case,' she added. 'He wasn't asked the question in that context.' But, she said, Lundberg's decision to publish the paper 'is not a reason to fire an editor who's been there 17 years and by almost anyone's estimation has put a small society that no one took seriously on the map.' But [AMA executive vice president E. Ratcliffe Anderson] said his office has been deluged by callers expressing support."
AMA editor was on thin ice (1/16/99) The Washington Post reports "The decision was the 'culmination of seven months of observation' during which numerous events caused him to lose confidence in Lundberg, [AMA executive vice president E. Ratcliffe Anderson] said. The publication of the sex survey, which will appear in next week's edition, was the only objectionable event he would name. He apologized to anyone who may 'feel JAMA has been misused in the midst of the most important congressional debate of this century.'"
"Too little is known about health of lesbians, new report says" (1/15/99) It is reasonable to investigate health differentials between women who have given birth and those who haven't. All else being equal, I doubt that lesbians differ biologically from heterosexual women.
JAMA public statement about Lundberg firing (1/15/99) "Dr. Lundberg, through his recent actions, has threatened the historic tradition and integrity of the Journal of the American Medical Association by inappropriately and inexcusably interjecting JAMA into a major political debate that has nothing to do with science or medicine. This is unacceptable."
JAMA editor fired over 'oral sex' article (1/15/99) George Lundberg, the editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, was fired this morning for publishing an article reporting that most think that oral sex does not constitute 'sex.' Click here for more details.
"Advocacy groups are putting science on defensive, shutting down research" (1/15/99) A Washington Times article about Silencing Science.
"AMA releases old survey on oral sex just in time for President's trial" (1/15/99) The Junk Science Home Page scoops Matt Drudge.
Sipping tea prevents cancer? (1/14/99) The January 1999 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reports that slowly drinking tea is a very effective way of inducing the body to produce anti-cancer substances. According to this study, prolonged contact between tea and oral cavity epithelial cells increases production of tea catechins -- substances which supposedly inhibit the growth of precancerous cells. Unfortunately for this study -- and as its authors acknowledge -- epidemiologic studies do not convincingly demonstrate that tea drinkers have lower cancer rates. Perhaps they're not drinking slowly enough?
PCBs and breast cancer (1/14/99) The January 1999 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reports PCBS in certain "genetically susceptible women -- those with the CYP1A1 variant genotype -- were associated with a 190 percent increase in breast cancer (95% confidence interval 18%- 645%). The authors theorize this supposed genetic susceptibility could explain why other studies fail to link PCBs with breast cancer -- i.e., other study populations have few women with the CYP1A1 variant genotype. But the claimed statistical association is based on only 19 breast cancer cases and 12 controls. The crude statistical association is not statistically significant; only after "adjustment" is the association significant.
Meat consumption, genetic susceptibility and colon cancer risk (1/14/99) The January 1999 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reports that high levels of red and white meat consumption was not associated with colon cancer risk.
Update: New study to claim most don't think oral sex constitutes 'sex' (1/14/99) The lead researcher is June Machover Reinisch, a former head of the Kinsey Institute in Indiana. According to a source, Reinisch first considered doing this study last January when the Lewinsky scandal first broke. She decided against pursuing the study as she thought the scandal would only last a short time. She finally submitted the the study to JAMA in Sepetmber and they turned it around pretty quickly. Reinisch claims the study gives credence to Clinton's claim that he was not lying when he denied having sex with Lewinsky. Developing even harder...
New study to claim most don't think oral sex constitutes 'sex' (1/14/99) Sources tell the Junk Science Home Page that a study to be published in next week's Journal of the American Medical Association will report that, based on a 1991 survey of 600 college students at a major Midwestern university, 60 percent of those surveyed would not say that they "had sex" with someone if it was only oral-genital contact. Politically convenient science? As Matt Drudge would say, "Developing hard..."
Bill introduced to repeal data access law (1/13/99) Rep. George Brown (D-Junk Science) introduced a bill to repeal the recently enacted data access law.
Should women at "moderate risk" of breast cancer cut their breasts off to avoid breast cancer? (1/13/99) This New England Journal of Medicine study reports that the breast cancer rate declined almost 90 percent among women at "moderate risk" of breast cancer who under went bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. But does this action really make sense for women at "moderate risk?" The study examined 425 such women and reported that, whereas about 37 breast cancers would have been expected, only 4 occurred -- about a 90 percent decline. But these numbers also show that more than 90 percent of these women had their breasts removed for nothing.
Another one bites the dust (1/13/99) Last February, CDC researchers published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine claiming that natural disasters increased suicide rates. The study has now been retracted because the researchers double counted some of the deaths. Oops!
You, the jury (1/13/99) Louis Slesin, the editor of Microwave News has challenged Mike Fumento's Forbes article on the anti-shoplifting device controversy. Click here for Fumento's "The zapping of Sensormatic." Click here for Slesin's "FDA Cautions Physicians on EMI from Anti-Theft Systems." Decide for yourself. Please post your verdict on Trash Talk.
"Court-Appointed Scientists Are No Panacea" (1/13/99) An interesting piece from the New York Times.
Letter-to-the-editor time! (1/13/99) NOAA claims the earth is heating up and that 1998 was the hottest year ever. This story has been reported in many newspapers, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Houston Chronicle, Omaha World-Herald, Sacramento Bee,, and USA Today. Pick a paper and write a letter correcting the story. Use this Electricity Daily article or yesterday's Christy/Spencer press release as sources. Here are the e-mail links: Fort Worth Star- Telegram, Houston Chronicle, Omaha World-Herald, Sacramento Bee, and USA Today.
"Cancer group foresees 1.2 million new U.S. cancer cases" (1/13/99) Last week the news was 1 in 2 men will get heart disease. This week it's 1 in 2 will get cancer. Have a good day!
Dan Quayle on global warming (1/13/99) Yesterday, Dan Quayle said ""Bill Clinton and Al Gore hyperventilate over the theory -- the theory -- of global warming. Wouldn't it be nice if they paid half as much attention to the reality of global terrorism?" Maybe Quayle is a poor speller, but at least he's smart enough to know that global warming is only a theory. That's more than can be said for Ozone Al.
"Beware of the Kyoto Compromise" (1/13/99) The New York Times actually printed an opinion opposed to the Kyoto Protocol. The enviros will undoubtedly swamp the Times with hate mail. Please send a note to the Times in support of this article.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory accused of bizarre cancer cover-up (1/12/99) In this e-mail to the DOEWATCH list, the sender claims that Oak Ridge National Laboratory and TVA conspired to increase background rates of cancer and other health problems to cover up their effect on these populations. As my source pointed out, when some congressman calls for an inquiry, you'll know where it started.
"Scientists Present 1998 Earth-Temperature Trends" (1/12/99) From John Christy and Roy Spencer, "The resulting time series shows the temperature trend in the lower troposphere is zero for 1979-97. At the same time, the temperature of the lower stratosphere has declined at a rate of -- 0.6 degrees C per decade." What global warming?
"Extended Arctic Ozone Depletion In 1997 Related To Prolonged Polar Vortex" (1/12/99) "Atmospheric scientists believe that the formation of the vortex is a key step in providing the chemical conditions for ozone depletion."
"El Nino Impacts: Weaker in the Past, Stronger in the Future?" (1/12/99) Global warming hysterics claim that 1998 was the hottest year ever. More level-headed individuals acknowledge that 1998 was a relatively warm year, but point out that El Nino was the most important contributor. The hysterics counterclaim that global warming is strenghtening the El Nino effect. If you read this press release, you'll find that this theory is utter speculation based on computer modeling and the observation that El Ninos have been more frequent since the 1970s, supposedly a period of "dramatic rise in global temperature." Too bad the satellite and ballon data show a slight cooling over that time frame.
"The zapping of Sensormatic" (1/12/99) Michael Fumento's Forbes article on the anti-shoplifting device scare.
"The Week That Was January 4-10, 1999" (1/12/99) The weekly update from the Science and Environmental POlicy Project.
"1998: One hot year" (1/12/99) Can you say "El Nino?" Also, the article states that "Because the Pacific Ocean temperature has cooled, global temperatures in 1999 are expected to be less warm than 1998, the scientists said. But they expect it to remain above the long-term average." Duh... since we've been in a general warming trend for several centuries (recovering from the Little Ice Age), temperatures are likely to be above the "long-term" average. I wouldn't start worrying until temperatures are NOT above the long-term average.
"Long hot year: Latest science debunks global warming hysteria" (1/11/99) An excellent paper by Patrick Michaels.
"Right to know: EPA proposes lower reporting thresholds for persistent bioaccumualtive chemicals" (1/11/99) Another step in the EPA's anti-chemical jihad.
"Reflections of an artful regulator" (1/11/99) Rumor has that Chemical and Engineering News' reporter Bette Hileman had her nose surgically removed from Lynn Goldman's derriere after this interview.
"DOE scientists give cautious nod to Yucca nuclear dumpsite" (1/11/99) It's a highly engineered "repository;" not a "dumpsite."
The return of endocrine disrupter synergy (1/11/99) When can we expect this study to be retracted?
"Sharing Fears of a Cancer Cluster" (1/11/99) How long before this cancer cluster in Harlem turns into an environmetnal justice issue?
"The messy politics of cleaning up" (1/11/99) "It is an article of faith among many environmental activists that modern industry has unleashed a cancer epidemic on the American people. Yet many scientists remain unconvinced, if not actively dismissive, of such fears."
"Parting the green clouds" (1/11/99) "As is our custom, here is the year-end Environmental Myth Report of the Science & Environmental Policy Project, our modest contribution to the edification of the public..."
"Global warming aggravating water shortage" (1/11/99) Are they smart in China or what? Consider the detail in this forecast for 30 years hence. My weatherman has a problem with a storm six hours away.
"Uncivil attack on business" (1/11/99) Mike Fumento writes about A Civil Action in the Washignton Times.
"U.S. urged to track human 'mad cow'-like maladies" (1/11/99) "The U.S. government should set up a system to monitor deaths from the human equivalent of "mad cow" disease because the toll could be much higher than previously thought, three groups said in petitions filed on Thursday."
"Dubious 'Experts'" (1/11/99) C.W. Griffin opines in the Washington Post "The general use of neutral, court-appointed experts could banish tons of junk science cluttering the nation's courts and perverting our civil justice system."
"Uncivil Action" (1/11/99) The Wall Street Journal editorializes "Yet the message of 'A Civil Action' is that science is made in the courtroom, and that personality--even a flawed personality like Mr. Schlichtmann's--is to be valued over impartiality or facts."
"Algae put to work in fight against cancer" (1/10/99) This "discovery" came by accident during research on global warming. I guess one never knows where junk science will lead.
"Animal-rights movement gets extreme with 10 on list for assassination" (1/10/99) Scary.
"Smoking mums recipe for tantrums" (1/10/99) "Children whose mothers smoked during early pregnancy are more likely to be aggressive and display delinquent behaviour when they grow up." Did my mother smoke?
"Time we conserved childhood" (1/10/99) Susan Brady Konig opines in the New York Post: "Hey, I'm all for a little 'Give a hoot, don't pollute' for the kids. But do we have to hit them over the head with it all the time? I just want to be able to tell my kids the story of George Washington and the cherry tree and have them thinking the moral of the story is never tell a lie - not that the Father of Our Country was a heartless tree murderer!"
Citing MTBE threat to Lake Tahoe, California supports personal watercraft ban (1/10/99) The Daily Environment Report reports (1/8) "California Attorney General Bill Lockyer asked a federal court to uphold a pending ban on the use of personal watercraft powered by two-stroke engines in Lake Tahoe." But using MTBE sounds like an excuse to get rid of politically incorrect jet skis. I'm sure the lake contains lots of other gasoline compounds -- and has for many decades.
U.K. science societies lobby against cut in school science curriculum (1/10/99) Nature (1/7) reports that 10 professional U.K. science bodies have challenged the government to end speculation that it is thinking of reducing the time students spend studying science in the last two years of compulsory school.
"Montrose students get trash talk" (1/9/99) This Los Angeles Times story is not about our "Trash Talk" but about "The Environmental Defenders Save the Earth!" -- one of several public education programs developed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works in an effort to reduce the amount of solid waste going to the area's nine landfills.
"NASA planes to participate in Amazon global warming study" (1/9/99) Will NASA report that the rain forests are not the "lungs" of the planet?
"Heat rises as debate rages over alleged global warming" (1/9/99) From the Canberra Times: "Scientific debate is being replaced by pressure to conform to a new orthodoxy, reinforced by the control of research funds by governmental agencies."
"Scientists study rising water level in Chesapeake Bay" (1/9/99) "That means this is by and large a long-term natural process, but we also think there's clearly a man-induced component." I guess they needed to throw global warming in there to get federal funding.
"City slickers off target in pesticide report" (1/8/99) Although this Michael Fumento op-ed is from Dec. 15, this feeble response letter was published yesterday.
"Fla. court puts off ruling on secondhand-smoke deal" (1/8/99) "Lawyers opposing the settlement told three judges at the hearing that the Rosenblatts had given in too easily and for too little and, were overcompensated with fees and expenses totaling $49 million."
Highlights from Nature (1/8/99) Including: the Jefferson paternity controversy, plutonium infiltration of ground water at the Nevadad Test Site, and the impact of air traffic on clouds.
Highlights from Science (1/8/99) Including: the Jefferson paternity controversy, global warming and grasslands, the "scary chemistry" at Chernobyl, a review of a book about ethics and animals, and physical activity and weight gain.
"Gardener who strangled 14-year-old girl in 1962 blames insecticide" (1/8/99) The "Twinkie defense" goes pesticide.
Only an anti-government fanatic could quibble with the Clean Air Act? (1/8/99) That's what the Tampa Tribune says in this editorial. There's no question that the air is cleaner now than 30 years ago. The question is whether it is necessary to lie about the science to achieve cleaner air. For example, contrary to this editorial, there is no evidence the Clean Air Act has "saved" millions -- or even thousands -- of lives. Send your comments to the Tampa Tribune.
"Algae put to work in fight against cancer" (1/10/99) This "discovery" came by accident during research on global warming. I guess one never knows where junk science will lead.
"Animal-rights movement gets extreme with 10 on list for assassination" (1/10/99) Scary.
"Smoking mums recipe for tantrums" (1/10/99) "Children whose mothers smoked during early pregnancy are more likely to be aggressive and display delinquent behaviour when they grow up." Did my mother smoke?
"Time we conserved childhood" (1/10/99) Susan Brady Konig opines in the New York Post: "Hey, I'm all for a little 'Give a hoot, don't pollute' for the kids. But do we have to hit them over the head with it all the time? I just want to be able to tell my kids the story of George Washington and the cherry tree and have them thinking the moral of the story is never tell a lie - not that the Father of Our Country was a heartless tree murderer!"
Citing MTBE threat to Lake Tahoe, California supports personal watercraft ban (1/10/99) The Daily Environment Report reports (1/8) "California Attorney General Bill Lockyer asked a federal court to uphold a pending ban on the use of personal watercraft powered by two-stroke engines in Lake Tahoe." But using MTBE sounds like an excuse to get rid of politically incorrect jet skis. I'm sure the lake contains lots of other gasoline compounds -- and has for many decades.
U.K. science societies lobby against cut in school science curriculum (1/10/99) Nature (1/7) reports that 10 professional U.K. science bodies have challenged the government to end speculation that it is thinking of reducing the time students spend studying science in the last two years of compulsory school.
"Montrose students get trash talk" (1/9/99) This Los Angeles Times story is not about our "Trash Talk" but about "The Environmental Defenders Save the Earth!" -- one of several public education programs developed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works in an effort to reduce the amount of solid waste going to the area's nine landfills.
"NASA planes to participate in Amazon global warming study" (1/9/99) Will NASA report that the rain forests are not the "lungs" of the planet?
"Heat rises as debate rages over alleged global warming" (1/9/99) From the Canberra Times: "Scientific debate is being replaced by pressure to conform to a new orthodoxy, reinforced by the control of research funds by governmental agencies."
"Scientists study rising water level in Chesapeake Bay" (1/9/99) "That means this is by and large a long-term natural process, but we also think there's clearly a man-induced component." I guess they needed to throw global warming in there to get federal funding.
"City slickers off target in pesticide report" (1/8/99) Although this Michael Fumento op-ed is from Dec. 15, this feeble response letter was published yesterday.
"Fla. court puts off ruling on secondhand-smoke deal" (1/8/99) "Lawyers opposing the settlement told three judges at the hearing that the Rosenblatts had given in too easily and for too little and, were overcompensated with fees and expenses totaling $49 million."
Highlights from Nature (1/8/99) Including: the Jefferson paternity controversy, plutonium infiltration of ground water at the Nevadad Test Site, and the impact of air traffic on clouds.
Highlights from Science (1/8/99) Including: the Jefferson paternity controversy, global warming and grasslands, the "scary chemistry" at Chernobyl, a review of a book about ethics and animals, and physical activity and weight gain.
"Gardener who strangled 14-year-old girl in 1962 blames insecticide" (1/8/99) The "Twinkie defense" goes pesticide.
Only an anti-government fanatic could quibble with the Clean Air Act? (1/8/99) That's what the Tampa Tribune says in this editorial. There's no question that the air is cleaner now than 30 years ago. The question is whether it is necessary to lie about the science to achieve cleaner air. For example, contrary to this editorial, there is no evidence the Clean Air Act has "saved" millions -- or even thousands -- of lives. Send your comments to the Tampa Tribune.
"Study Gives High School Textbooks Low Marks for Environmental Health Chapters" (1/7/99) Look for this American Council on Science and Health report to be featured on Friday's Fox Report at 7 pm EST.
Wake-up call for the British Medical Journal (1/7/99) This letter-to-the-editor of the British Medical Journal naively gives credence to a link between DDT and pesticide exposure. But a recent Lancet study could find no link and at least two other recent studies in major journals have also failed to find such an association. Is this ignorance or arrogance?
" Driver Education Courses May Confer No Safety Benefit" (1/7/99) " High-school-age persons who enroll in driver education courses do not have fewer motor-vehicle-related violations, crashes, or deaths than those who do not, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. In fact, the scientists said, by providing an opportunity for teens to get their licenses early, such courses may be contributing to higher crash involvement rates among young drivers."
"Early Human Activity In Australia May Have Led To Animal Extinctions" (1/7/99) Talk about overreaching. These researchers date the extinction of an Australian bird at about 50,000 years ago, about the same time humans are thought to have arrived on the continent. So, therefore, "humans were probably responsible for the demise of more than 85% of Australia's larger animals about 50,000 years ago." Huh? Sounds like pretty raw speculation. Click here for Los Angeles Times coverage.
Discovery channel does global warming (1/7/99) The Discovery channel is producing a series of 13 one-hour shows titled "Storm Warning." The first episode is titled "Global Warming" and will be shown January 8, 1999, 10:00 p.m. EST.
SBSC warns against early implementation of flawed global warming treaty (1/7/99) "The Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC), with more than 50,000 members across the nation, warned today against efforts being put forth in the U.S. Senate that could in effect implement the Kyoto Treaty on Global Climate Change without Senate ratification."
The Week That Was December 28, 1998 - January 3, 1999 (1/7/99) The weekly update from the Science and Environmental Policy Project.
Meteorological Group Chief Places Burden on Global Warming Skeptics (1/7/99) The Daily Environment Report (1/7) reports Eugene Rasmusson, president of the American Meteorological Society, told a news briefing on Jan. 6 that a rise in global temperature increasingly will be attributed to human activity unless scientists can make a "persuasive case" that natural fluctuations are to blame. But manmade global warming is only a theory. Accepting a theory as fact unless it can be disproved turns the scientific method on its head.
"Plutonium Found in Ground Water Casts Doubt on Safety of Waste Site" (1/7/99) Another excuse not to proceed with the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
Deadline for the Endocrine/Estrogen Letter Sweepstakes (1/6/99) January 7, 1999 is the deadline for entering this contest to win a 1-year subscription to the most comprehensive source for news on the hot topic of endocrine disrupters.
Drunk driving: "Death rate unaffected, researchers say; Officials back DWI law despite study's findings" (1/6/99) Last week, President Clinton called for a federal drunk driving standard based on a blood alcohol level of 0.08. A new study from the University of North Carolina fails to show such a standard would measurably impact the alcohol-related traffic fatality rate. Click here for the study in PDF format.
NIEHS/NTP announces testing program for endocrine disrupters (1/6/99) Just what we need -- a replica of the National Toxicology Program just for endocrine disrupters.
"Communities prepare to battle radium standard; Federal drinking water rule could force many in state to spend millions" (1/6/99) The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports "Many municipal officials believe tougher standards or stricter enforcement of current standards are unnecessary because, they say, the health risk posed by radium in water is negligible."
"Additive in gasoline polluting water wells; Some state legislators seek to ban the use of MTBE" (1/6/99) Connecticut ought to look to California.
AGU position statement on global warming (1/6/99) Fred Singer points out problems with the American Geophysical Union's position statement on global warming.
"Ice Age may be 50,000 years late" (1/6/99) "Man-made global warming may postpone the arrival of the next Ice Age..."
"Environmental challenge" (1/6/99) A Japanese newspaper editorializes that world population may grow 50 percent over the next 50 years "in spite" of global warming.
"Call that stormy weather? You ain't seen nothing yet" (1/6/99) Geoff Jenkins, the head of the Hadley Centre for Climate Research, says the jury is still out on whether human activity is disturbing weather systems.
"Global warming, we hardly new ye" (1/6/99) The Toronto Star editorialized today "The unseasonably warm weather of recent months had made us forget the predictions that this would be a bad winter. And we were just starting to believe the theory of global warming."
"France basks in freak spring-like weather" (1/6/99) Agence France-Presse reports meteorologist Dominique Escale as saying the mild weather was related to an anticyclone bringing warm winds from the south rather than the overall global warming of the planet.
Head of enviro group calls Junkman an 'arrogant little f*ck' (1/6/99) Of course there was no "*" in the actual slur.
"Certainty of Jefferson-Hemings Affair Is Overstated, Critics Say" (1/6/99) "Although the group has not contested the results of genetic tests performed on descendants of Hemings and the Jefferson family, members argue that the report that appeared in the journal Nature in November was misleading, particularly in its headline: "Jefferson fathered slave's last child."
"Cancer centers set sights on tobacco settlement" (1/5/99) Nature Medicine reports (January 1999) "Across America, special interest groups are lining up, hoping to get money out of the national tobacco settlement for their pet causes, many of them non-health related... And although there is nothing in the deal outlining how the funds have to be used, cancer centers in at least three states are working on garnering a share -- beating out groups that would use the money for new classrooms, roads or housing."
"U.S. public may gain access to research data" (1/5/99) About the recently enacted data access law that would extend the Freedom of Information Act to include raw data from government funded extramural research, Nature Medicine (January 1999) quotes Mike Gough as saying: "Either your data are good and your interpretations are justifiable, or you're going to hide behind [claims that the measure could violate medical privacy, harm intellectual property rights and lead to harassment of researchers."
"Warming trend" (1/5/99) "Energy prices may be on the rise. Even if the mercury in the thermometer isn't."
"Why seek solution for unproven problem?" (1/5/99) "The U.S. may have experienced unusual weather in 1998, but it has nothing to do with global warming."
Highlights from the Endocrine/Estrogen Letter (1/5/99) A sampling from the January 4 issue. Don't forget to enter the Endocrine/Estrogen Letter Sweepstakes and win a 1-year subscription!
"$10 Million Awarded In Breast Implant Suit" (1/5/99) "The award comes a month after a panel of scientists appointed by a federal judge in Alabama issued a well-publicized report finding no definite ties between the devices and numerous diseases... [Judge] Bryant did not permit the panel's report, which came out during the trial, to be used as evidence."
"Radon risk may be overestimated" (1/4/99) "In a new study, investigators looked at the ability of a single alpha particle emitted by radon to damage DNA in individual cells. They found that a cell traversed by a single alpha particle was less likely to undergo potentially cancer-causing genetic changes compared with cells penetrated by more than one particle, according to lead author Dr. Richard C. Miller and colleagues at Columbia University, New York."
"Fruit Juice Intake Is Not Related to Children's Growth" (1/4/99) This study in the January Pediatrics counters a 1997 study claiming that fruit juice made kids short and fat. Click here for my 1997 critique.
"Correlation is not cause" (1/4/99) Scroll down and check out this on-the-money letter in this week's Science News about a recent study on maternal smoking and offspring cancer.
Feminine hygiene takes an undeserved hit (1/4/99) Although Science News reports "Women who douche frequently and then become pregnant appear more likely to have a low birth-weight baby than women who don't douche," the actual study results are not that alarming. According to the study of 4,665 women, those who douched once a week or less were not at significantly greater risk. Women who douched 2-3 times per week had only a (statistically weak) 40 percent increase in risk. Women who douched daily were at 150 percent greater risk, but there were only 37 such subjects in the study. Co-author Kevin Fiscella, a physician at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, says the benefits of douching are unproven. So is the risk.
"Sunscreen Ingredient Causes DNA Damage In Light" (1/4/99) News release on December 29. Study not in print until January 18. Gee, that's almost three weeks to panic before we find out that...
"UNEP Helmsman Topfer Addresses Environmental Challenges" (1/4/99) Here's the article where UNEP director Klaus Topfer predicts "the next war in the world will be not idealogical, it will be linked with water."
Environmental Working Group whines that probability is too hard (1/4/99) Traditional EPA estimation of pesticide exposure involves very conservative assumptions that typically result in "worst-case to impossible" estimates. Supporters of more rational exposure estimation have long advocated "Monte Carlo analysis" -- a method based in probability and statistics. On November 6, 1998, the EPA requested public comments on its draft guidance for using Monte Carlo Analysis. According to the Daily Environment Report (1/4), the Environmental Working Group commented the techniques "require a dramatically higher level of resources and knowledge to perform" than other methods. Translation? Monte Carlo analysis means the EWG would have to hire staff who could do more than just throw grenades.
"Cleaner U.S. air" (1/4/99) This Kansas City Star editorial takes the position that "the ends justify the means" with respect to EPA air pollution control efforts. Tell the Star's editors this philosophy doesn't hold water under in America -- e.g. the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution bars unreasonable searches and seizures. Many have had their property rights and employment prospects trampled on by mindless EPA command-and-control regulation. I'd rather breathe dirty air than choke on EPA's lawlessness.
"Formaldehyde risk found in many products" (1/4/99) Actually the spotlighted study only measured formaldehyde emissions from certain consumer products. In any event, formaldehyde has long been a target of the EPA and the anti-chemical crowd. Though laboratory tests report increased cancer rates in rodents exposed to high levels of formaldehyde, evidence of carcinogenicity in humans is not persuasive. In the early 1980s, a federal court overturned a Consumer Product Safety Commission rule regulating formaldehyde emissions from particle board because CPSC hadn't proven "unreasonable risk." It will be interesting to see if this study launches CPSC on another formaldehyde witchhunt.
More Dupont treachery (1/3/99) This New York Times article reports on efforts by chemical giant Dupont for legislation providing financial advantages to companies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions sooner rather than later. This effort is seen as potentially moderating Senate opposition to a global warming treaty. This isn't the first time Dupont has helped put the screws to science and the taxpayers. Silencing Science describes previous Dupont skullduggery in the CFCs- ozone depletion controversy.
"Company Cleans Up in Clean-Up Business" (1/3/99) A Tennessee company takes contaminated soil or sludge and cooks it to vaporize the contaminants. But the vapor isn't trapped, it's just monitored. Isn't this an example of getting paid to sweep dirt from one corner to another? If we're afraid of the contaminants, aren't we better off with them trapped in soil rather than floating around the atmosphere?
"Facts on global warming" (1/3/99) This letter-to-the-editor was cited by the Tampa Tribune (1/2) as one of its favorites of 1998.
"War Over Water Predicted By United Nations Environment Official" (1/2/99) Klaus Toepfer, director-general of the United Nations Environment Programme, says "Everybody knows that we have an increase in population, but we do not have a corresponding increase in drinking water, so the result in the regional dimension is conflict." But perhaps we started with a surplus of drinking water?
"Leukemia could be hereditary, study finds" (1/2/99) But it's better politics to blame chemicals.
"Damages Cut In Implant Case; But Nev. Court Backs Verdict That Silicone Caused Illness" (1/2/99) Though "In a report issued last month, a scientific panel appointed by a federal judge to review conflicting scientific claims about implants found that no definite links existed between implants and disease... Justice Bob Rose said the recent scientific findings did not matter." What?!
"Unusual Alliance Works to Speed River Cleanup" (1/2/99) "... industry isn't against all environmental dredging, but wants other options considered, including letting silt entomb contaminated mud."
Happy New Year! (1/1/99)
Have a prosperous '99!"EPA Rejects Southland Smog Rules as Too Weak" (1/1/99) "[AQMD Executive Officer Barry Wallerstein] argues that the 1997 plan is legally and scientifically justified and aggressive in cleaning up smog. He said he will review the EPA's reasons and will consider "remedying any valid defects," but doubts any exist."
"Meta-analyses of observational data should be done with due care" (1/1/99) "But the statistical combination of studies is rarely appropriate in observational research." Note to EPA: "Observational research" includes the secondhand smoke epidemiology.
"Evidence on peer review: scientific quality control or smokescreen? " (1/1/99) From the British Medical Journal: "Appreciable bias and parochialism have been found in the peer review system... If the peer review process should turn out to be worthless or, worse still, hopelessly corrupt, researchers would be better off committing their findings to the internet."
"Vinyl toy safety" (1/1/99) "It's nice that a group of Indiana University students involved in InPIRG want to remind parents of the one or two hazards out of the hundreds when raising our kids. However, it's obvious that these IU kids didn't do their homework when it comes to opposing vinyl toys."
"Our odd and deadly weather; What's going on? Global warming? Or los ninos?" (1/1/99) Jerry Mahlman, director of NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab, says 'Baloney' to the proposition that last year's weather was influenced by global warming. at Princeton.
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