Media Reviews

EHS scientists and fellows critique media coverage.

Chemicals linked to male breast cancer, but which ones?

Posted by Heather Patisaul, Ph.D. at Jun 30, 2009 03:45 PM |

Few details about the chemicals that the men with breast cancer drank in their water while at the Camp Lejeune marine base makes this otherwise exceptional article seem murky and vague.

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Electronic cigarettes and your car's radiator: what they DON'T have in common.

Posted by Paul Eubig, DVM at Jun 30, 2009 12:20 PM |

In recent articles about electronic or e-cigarettes, reporters tie the chemical propylene glycol – a main ingredient in the devices – to products such as antifreeze and hand sanitizers. Although accurate, the statements are unintentionally misleading and do not productively contribute to the debate on the health implications of e-cigarettes.

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Twisting concerns over BPA.

Posted by Negin P. Martin, Ph. D at Jun 29, 2009 03:10 AM |

The reporter and a quoted industry representative ignore a major point of a recent BPA study.

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Some forms of mercury more toxic than others.

Posted by Karen Kidd at Jun 24, 2009 02:40 PM |

An article describing high levels of mercury in the Mackenzie River missed the chance to explain how the metal is connected to human health risks and that one form of mercury is of greater risk than the other.

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Remember methane and its dual persona?

Posted by Michele A. La Merrill, Ph.D. at Jun 08, 2009 03:40 AM |

Methane's animal sources and its heavy impact to climate change is sidestepped.

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Recharged energy ignores larger health issues of lead.

Posted by Michele A. La Merrill, Ph.D. at Jun 04, 2009 12:30 PM |

The disposal costs and health hazards of reusable batteries should not be overlooked.

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Glyphosate: public health vs profit in Argentina.

Posted by Negin P. Martin, Ph. D at Jun 04, 2009 04:05 AM |

Argentina's herbicide controversy pits health against the economy, but a Financial Times article fails to capture the issue's global importance.

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Proposed legislation regulating tobacco not so simple.

Posted by Heather Patisaul, Ph.D. at May 28, 2009 02:50 PM |

Congress is ready to give the US Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco, but an article tackling the issue needs a more thoughtful analysis of the health impacts behind the proposed legislation.

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Chesapeake Bay can recover.

Posted by Karen Kidd at May 26, 2009 08:30 PM |

Remarks mislead readers about the cause of low oxygen and the likelihood of the Bay's recovery.

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Can cosmetics cause cancer? Who cares?

Posted by Paul Eubig, DVM at May 21, 2009 03:15 PM |

A recent report sets out to address whether ingredients in cosmetics are harmful but winds up convincing readers the question is not worth asking.

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Reporting the BPA ban in Chicago in bits and pieces.

Posted by Paul Eubig, DVM at May 14, 2009 03:30 PM |

Together, the hometown newspapers hit key aspects of Chicago's intended BPA ban, yet both omit important points that would add context for readers.

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Underscoring health hazards of herbicides.

Posted by Negin P. Martin, Ph. D at May 05, 2009 02:15 PM |

Missing is the science explaining the environmental health problems associated with lawn pesticide use.

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Broader environment neglected in cancer cure.

Posted by Maricel Maffini at May 02, 2009 09:45 AM |

New York Times article is an example of another lost chance to explore environmental exposures that cause cancer at key development periods.

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Radio interview covers tough topic.

Posted by Negin P. Martin, Ph. D at Apr 22, 2009 11:05 AM |

Reporter tackles a difficult subject—birth defects and time of conception—but omits some study details.

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Strange omission in bottle assessment

Posted by John Peterson Myers at Apr 20, 2009 05:45 PM |

Daniel Goleman and Gregory Norris present in the New York Times a life cycle assessment-lite in their comparision of stainless steel vs. plastic bottles that completely ignores the main point: stainless steel doesn't leach bisphenol A.

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Phthalates as a public health concern.

Posted by Benson T. Akingbemi at Apr 20, 2009 10:45 AM |

An NPR reporter ignores results from decades of research conducted around the globe.

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NPR commentator ignores climate-disease links.

Posted by John Peterson Myers at Apr 18, 2009 05:00 PM |

Clive Crook, commenting on NPR's Weekend Edition about the EPA's decision to regulate carbon dioxide, incorrectly asserted that there are no health consequences of carbon dioxide emissions for the U.S.

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NPR on precautionary principle.

Posted by John Peterson Myers at Apr 15, 2009 09:45 AM |

NPR's exploration of the precautionary principal hits the right notes but gets a few key scientific details wrong.

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Junk food is not the whole story.

Posted by Jennifer Adibi at Apr 12, 2009 03:15 PM |

Reporters can do a better job to address obesity as a complex disease where junk food is not the only culprit.

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Washington Post tells a great fish story.

Posted by Heather Patisaul, Ph.D. at Apr 11, 2009 11:10 AM |

The Washington Post explores, in depth, if you can get mercury poisoning from eating too much fish.

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