Hi Dr Andrea --first of all I love your work --you're doing such important outreach! I really hope that the people who need to hear this (read the entire "Wellness world") will one day access your rich knowledge and straightforward presentation of information!
I was just watching a documentary on the Love Canal on PBS and it occurred to me that as with all misinformation, there is a kernel of truth there. I'm old enough to remember the Love Canal disaster and the Superfund clean-ups that happened as a result --the EPA was in its infancy (oddly now somewhat gutted, but that's another topic) --and people were -rightfully so- terrified of the chemical mess that the unregulated chemical companies dumped into our water and buried under our communities. So though I completely share your dismay at the rampant chemophobia out there in the world today --it occurs to me that there was good reason to fear the companies that put profits above people's safety at that time (from the 1950's well into the 80's) and so I can in a way understand the general public's distrust of all things "chemical" (and yes, i get that everything is chemicals) but we were terrorized by the misbehavior and complete refusal of companies like Hook Chemicals to be accountable for polluting our environment and hurting our children. It took a massive movement of mostly mothers to hold them to account and to make the government and the chemical companies start to pay attention to what they were doing to our environment. I think sometimes today we can take for granted how much more regulated the chemical industry is compared to back then --but that memory runs deep and so though that mistrust seems silly and unwarranted --it was born of a real problem with "chemical" contamination of the environment; and it was not that long ago!
I wonder how we can acknowledge peoples' fears and distrust of those companies who put profits over peoples' and the environment's health, while bringing them into the 21st century of much more regulated and tested synthetic chemicals. My husband works in agriculture and I know first hand how things have changed --and how much less toxic many of the newer pesticides are; but I think the trauma of having lived through those Superfund site clean-ups may be why people are so hesitant to embrace a new generation of medical and ag synthetics. (And of course --i get that many "natural" chemicals are more toxic than the synthetic ones; but i think that the appeal to nature fallacy may well have some of its roots there as well (as well as in pre-WWII Germany...).
I totally understand and agree - a lot of the fear mongering has some roots in historical events - but then it becomes a throw the baby out with the bath water situation, so it definitely warrants context when discussing these topics. Often I hear people conflating irrelevant situations or demonizing “big X” as a way to refuse to listen to facts, which is an entirely different problem!
Another great piece, though having dealt with the claim for many years in my professional life, it saddens me to think about how many times this perspective has been provided over the years and we still see the rumors/allegations circulating Unfortunately, marketers that are willing to sell products based on the fear are a major factor.
Great piece as always Dr. Love. Would you consider covering the other "scary chemicals" such as parents that are often cited by these folks? Thank you.
Hi Dr Andrea --first of all I love your work --you're doing such important outreach! I really hope that the people who need to hear this (read the entire "Wellness world") will one day access your rich knowledge and straightforward presentation of information!
I was just watching a documentary on the Love Canal on PBS and it occurred to me that as with all misinformation, there is a kernel of truth there. I'm old enough to remember the Love Canal disaster and the Superfund clean-ups that happened as a result --the EPA was in its infancy (oddly now somewhat gutted, but that's another topic) --and people were -rightfully so- terrified of the chemical mess that the unregulated chemical companies dumped into our water and buried under our communities. So though I completely share your dismay at the rampant chemophobia out there in the world today --it occurs to me that there was good reason to fear the companies that put profits above people's safety at that time (from the 1950's well into the 80's) and so I can in a way understand the general public's distrust of all things "chemical" (and yes, i get that everything is chemicals) but we were terrorized by the misbehavior and complete refusal of companies like Hook Chemicals to be accountable for polluting our environment and hurting our children. It took a massive movement of mostly mothers to hold them to account and to make the government and the chemical companies start to pay attention to what they were doing to our environment. I think sometimes today we can take for granted how much more regulated the chemical industry is compared to back then --but that memory runs deep and so though that mistrust seems silly and unwarranted --it was born of a real problem with "chemical" contamination of the environment; and it was not that long ago!
I wonder how we can acknowledge peoples' fears and distrust of those companies who put profits over peoples' and the environment's health, while bringing them into the 21st century of much more regulated and tested synthetic chemicals. My husband works in agriculture and I know first hand how things have changed --and how much less toxic many of the newer pesticides are; but I think the trauma of having lived through those Superfund site clean-ups may be why people are so hesitant to embrace a new generation of medical and ag synthetics. (And of course --i get that many "natural" chemicals are more toxic than the synthetic ones; but i think that the appeal to nature fallacy may well have some of its roots there as well (as well as in pre-WWII Germany...).
Just some thoughts. Thank you for all you do!
I totally understand and agree - a lot of the fear mongering has some roots in historical events - but then it becomes a throw the baby out with the bath water situation, so it definitely warrants context when discussing these topics. Often I hear people conflating irrelevant situations or demonizing “big X” as a way to refuse to listen to facts, which is an entirely different problem!
Thank you for providing context with your comparitives.
Another great piece, though having dealt with the claim for many years in my professional life, it saddens me to think about how many times this perspective has been provided over the years and we still see the rumors/allegations circulating Unfortunately, marketers that are willing to sell products based on the fear are a major factor.
Mr. McMicking
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/sunscreen-myths-1.7252206
This is not intended to supplant what Dr. Love may provide.
Great piece as always Dr. Love. Would you consider covering the other "scary chemicals" such as parents that are often cited by these folks? Thank you.
Sorry, parabens, gotta love autocorrect.
Thank you! Yes, I have been working with some cosmetic chemists to check my work, but stay tuned :)
We are flooded with pseudoscience! Thanks for adding a voice of reason to the chatter.