Media Reviews
EHS scientists and fellows critique media coverage.
Uneven effort to simplify science.
The Montreal Gazette prints 20 key points to help the public interpret chemical science but a scientist specializing in green chemistry explains why not all of them hit the mark.
Article overlooks chemical’s role in determining fish sex.
A Time Magazine article misses an opportunity to consider the effect of environmental chemicals on fish sex development.
TV segment mixes up two air pollutants.
A CBS Evening News report confuses two pollutants while explaining the impact of Chinese pollution and sandstorms on California's weather.
Lead from recycling batteries poses a global threat.
A New York Times article tackles the health and environmental problems linked to lead from U.S. battery recycling in Mexico but the issue is global in scale.
Article on 'pollution glue' does not illuminate science.
BBC news report covers the political debate over sequestering road soot with glue but doesn't provide insight into the science.
Story heavy on cleanup issues, light on health risks.
Star Tribune article describes attempt to reduce contamination but fails to discuss why it's important.
Fish story shortchanges health effects, those most vulnerable.
An Associated Press article fails to mention health effects and vulnerable populations when people eat more fish than expected.
Time examines early puberty
Jeffrey Kluger explores the possible causes of early puberty in girls in an article in Time Magazine. Much of it is excellent, but he misses a crucial connection between two potential causes, obesity and contamination.
"Ultrafine" mistaken in an otherwise illuminating air pollution article.
A recent article in Forbes highlights the hidden costs of air pollution in terms of its effects on public health, but confuses classes of one measure of air pollution – particulate matter – described in the article.
Mercury threat not identified in mining story.
An Associated Press article misses mercury as an environmental threat from Alaska's proposed Pebble Mine.
The LA Times exposes breast cancer's challenge to epidemiology.
An article in the Los Angeles Times on the fuzzy relationship between chemical exposures and breast cancer highlights a key challenge to epidemiology as it seeks to attribute causation of adult diseases to contamination.
Flame retardant safety issues well put.
A story by Yale Environment 360 is a great example of informative reporting about industrial chemicals.
Include key green chemistry ideas when covering polymer science.
A recent article in Chemical & Engineering News leaves out key points reporters should include when explaining the pitfalls for new polymers vying for market share.
Story nails link between foul indoor air, health concerns.
A Deseret News article about poor air quality inside homes conveys critical information about visible and invisible hazards.
Explain terms to improve uranium story.
Readers may be stumped by terms in a BBC article describing a technology that makes it easier to remove uranium from water.
A fun, profound article employs science reporting basics.
A recent article in the Washington Post does a great job of conveying important science – including technical details – in a fun fashion.
Herbicide on the rise, but health effects overlooked.
A recent Reuters article fails to describe the potential health and environmental impacts of herbicide.
Death cannot solely define Lake Apopka wildlife health.
Reproductive abnormalities are an important sign of unhealthy wildlife, but an Orlando Sentinel article fails to note that aspect in its story detailing efforts to restore Florida's Lake Apopka.
Well-written article underplays chlorine's role in new pool purifiers.
A Wall Street Journal article ably conveys the chemical and technical complexities of swimming pool disinfection systems but could have emphasized that chlorine is still needed.
E-waste culprits named but health risks not specified.
A news story in Nigeria's Daily Independent warns about health risks of e-waste in developing countries but does not provide specifics about potential health effects.
