I’m always amazed by the differing interpretations of research data by the media.
The CDC released its first National Report on Exposure to Environmental Chemicals in 2001 and has updated it every two years. A couple of weeks ago they released their latest findings. The LA Times headline was “Dozens of Chemicals Found in Most American Bodies…the concentrations in children are especially high” while the Seattle P-I (picked up from the Associated Press) chose the headline, “Level of Chemicals in our Bodies Dropping…CDC study shows a decrease in lead, other substances.” While both articles reveal many of the same facts from the study, as a parent the headlines do lead you in two different directions–the first to panic and the second to relief. Mainly, because one article focuses on the broadness of the study and the 28 chemicals they are testing for while the other focuses on lead which I grant you can be a very big deal with kids. As a matter of fact, I recently found out that the school my children attend found lead in the paint and I really wondered if I should worry. Turns out they dealt with it so I didn’t have to.
As a parent I find this such a drag! Mainly, because I’m not sure if I should be more worried about the rising chemicals or the declining ones. Just like when I’m at the market and I’m not sure which things I should buy organic and which ones don’t matter. Some are obvious–if I don’t want my child daughter to have breasts at age 10 like Debbie Stern who I grew up with (she was the first one to wear a bra) I’ll continue on organic milk but a lot of the other stuff I’m just not so sure about and it’s a lot more expensive. Bottom line is that I wish there was more consistency with the media and not quite so much bias. What do you think?
Posted on August 30th, 2005 by Sam
Filed under: Read This!, Research
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.