Check Your Sources
Local news has the ability to tie my stomach up into knots. I know, I shouldn't watch if it bothers me that much, but I can't help myself! Last week, one of Omaha's favorite news anchors, Julie Cornell, did a shticky piece on an "e-myth" that microwaving plastics causes cancer. I'll just cut to the chase. I agree with Julie that there is no real proof for that specific claim at this point. However, she missed a few things along the way and while she was busy proving her point, she proved a couple of mine.
In order to check the truthfulness of the plastics rumor, she checked "reputable" websites: two government websites, the FDA and the USDA, and an industry website for the plastics industry. Well, there you have it! If the government says it's not true and the industry says it's not true, then you better not worry your pretty little head about those silly rumors!
Now, lets go off on my tangent. She also checked out a website that tracks internet rumors. I did the same thing and was led to a refutation of this plastics rumor by the American Council on Science and Health. Ms. Cornell was too busy wrapping up her story in a neat little package to pick up on a point that is true and is readily admitted by even "reputable" sources, which is that plastics do leach into food when microwaved. The point of contention is whether or not this leaching is a health hazard.
If you do a little more research, you'll find that you don't know what else might be leaching into your food along with the plastic. One study looked at the possiblity of lead leaching from some plastic ware made in Thailand. If you do a little more research, you might stumble into a story about MTBE and benzene leaching into drinking water from plastic water pipes. Julie is right. There is no proof that microwaving plastic causes cancer. But I'd say that plastic is a bit suspect in some cases.
The media treats many complicated health matters in a shallow manner and I'd say that relying on the final word of the media is about as silly as relying on one or two internet rumors for your information. Media health reporting routinely turns to a governmental bodies as their reliable authority. I had the opportunity to chat with another local news anchor about the way another (unrelated) subject had been reported, and though she agreed that the subject was more complex, she told me that they report what the governmental health agencies advise.
Do I really need to devote an entire paragraph to using an industry website as a reliable source on a controversial health issue? I'm not going to demonize big business. I love (pure) free market economics. (Follow some of my libertarian links.) But c'mon. You've got the government, a giant industry, and big media in a cozy relationship. Are you really going to get the whole truth?
I would have drawn some different conclusions had I done the piece. I would have confirmend that there is no proof that microwaving plastic causes cancer. But, I would have shared the fact that plastic does indeed leach into food; some plastics are worse than others. If you don't have a problem with eating plastic, then keep doing what you're doing. Otherwise, it's perfectly easy to use glass instead of plastic in the microwave.
In order to check the truthfulness of the plastics rumor, she checked "reputable" websites: two government websites, the FDA and the USDA, and an industry website for the plastics industry. Well, there you have it! If the government says it's not true and the industry says it's not true, then you better not worry your pretty little head about those silly rumors!
Now, lets go off on my tangent. She also checked out a website that tracks internet rumors. I did the same thing and was led to a refutation of this plastics rumor by the American Council on Science and Health. Ms. Cornell was too busy wrapping up her story in a neat little package to pick up on a point that is true and is readily admitted by even "reputable" sources, which is that plastics do leach into food when microwaved. The point of contention is whether or not this leaching is a health hazard.
If you do a little more research, you'll find that you don't know what else might be leaching into your food along with the plastic. One study looked at the possiblity of lead leaching from some plastic ware made in Thailand. If you do a little more research, you might stumble into a story about MTBE and benzene leaching into drinking water from plastic water pipes. Julie is right. There is no proof that microwaving plastic causes cancer. But I'd say that plastic is a bit suspect in some cases.
The media treats many complicated health matters in a shallow manner and I'd say that relying on the final word of the media is about as silly as relying on one or two internet rumors for your information. Media health reporting routinely turns to a governmental bodies as their reliable authority. I had the opportunity to chat with another local news anchor about the way another (unrelated) subject had been reported, and though she agreed that the subject was more complex, she told me that they report what the governmental health agencies advise.
Do I really need to devote an entire paragraph to using an industry website as a reliable source on a controversial health issue? I'm not going to demonize big business. I love (pure) free market economics. (Follow some of my libertarian links.) But c'mon. You've got the government, a giant industry, and big media in a cozy relationship. Are you really going to get the whole truth?
I would have drawn some different conclusions had I done the piece. I would have confirmend that there is no proof that microwaving plastic causes cancer. But, I would have shared the fact that plastic does indeed leach into food; some plastics are worse than others. If you don't have a problem with eating plastic, then keep doing what you're doing. Otherwise, it's perfectly easy to use glass instead of plastic in the microwave.
posted by Danielle at 5:40 AM
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