Opposing ABC's Anti-Vaccine/Autism Propaganda Show
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Today, I sent the following letter to Renée R. Jenkins, M.D., of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who led the effort to chastise ABC for its plan to air an episode of its new lawyer drama, Eli Stone, this Thursday, in which anti-vaccine zealots who think vaccines cause autism are valorized:Dear Dr. Jenkins,We are writing to congratulate you on your bold, science-based statement regarding the premiere episode of the new drama series Eli Stone on ABC.We at the American   Read Full >>

Cigarette Smoking and the Church's "Pro-Life" Position
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Tuesday, January 29, 2008
This week's announcement by Philip Morris that it plans a "global blitz" to dramatically increase the number of cigarette smokers around the world represents the ultimate public health nightmare.The industry's insidious strategies to modify cigarettes to meet changing cultural and social needs will add to the allure of this inherently dangerous product: the soon-to-be-launched "Marlboro Intense" will allow smokers to cope with indoor smoking bans by taking quick,   Read Full >>

Two Types of Cigarettes, One for Teens, Both Stupid
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Monday, October 22, 2007
This morning's New York Times op-ed "A Two-Cigarette Society" by attorney David G. Adams made me think I was reading The Onion. Adams argued that we should have two types of cigarettes, one with and one without nicotine. He is proposing that we start young adults out on nicotine-free cigarettes, so they don't get hooked. What were they thinking at the Times editorial page when they published this scientific atrocity? Let us see if I understand this: We should   Read Full >>

Protect Yourself from Terrorism
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Monday, September 10, 2007
With the sixth anniversary of terrorist attacks approaching, it is easy to feel helpless and scared about what some believe to be an inevitable future attack. But there are things you can do to protect yourself:1. Keep your ears and eyes open. Report any suspicious behavior. Watch for unusually dressed people (long sleeves or overcoat on a warm day) or people wearing protective gear. Look out for unattended packages.2. If you find yourself inside a building in the vicinity of an explosion   Read Full >>

He Saved a Billion Lives (from the Washington Times)
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Friday, July 20, 2007
This piece first appeared on July 18, 2007 in the Washington Times:Could there be a man alive today who is virtually unknown to the vast majority of Americans yet is described by those who know his work and accomplishments as "the greatest human being who ever   Read Full >>

Does the Popemobile Have Seatbelts or Ashtrays? Vatican's "10 Commandments for Drivers" Don't Quite Click
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The Vatican this week issued a highly unusual document, which it says is dedicated to saving lives: "10 Commandments" to keep drivers and passengers safe on the road. The commandments also include warnings that a car can be an "occasion of sin," particularly when making dangerous passing maneuvers or using an automobile as a venue for illicit sex.The document stresses guidelines for keeping yourself and others safe in a car, noting that the World Health Organization   Read Full >>

The CDC, TB, and Andrew Speaker: The Plot Thickens
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Monday, June 4, 2007
There is more information coming in about attorney Andrew Speaker's case of tuberculosis, his decision to take international flights to and from his European wedding and honeymoon -- and exactly who knew what when. While there is still palpable contempt for Mr. Speaker's allegedly acting selfishly, putting the health of others at risk to get himself to a Denver hospital, there is a very strong possibility that the real culprit in this saga is not Mr. Speaker but the Centers for Disease   Read Full >>

Free Andrew! Hysteria and the TB Case (from the New York Post)
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Saturday, June 2, 2007
This piece first appeared in the June 2, 2007 New York Post: Information is still coming in about the case of Andrew Speaker, the Atlanta-area attorney now quarantined because he carries an antibiotics-resistant strain   Read Full >>

Do Trace Environmental Chemicals Cause Breast Cancer?
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Monday, May 14, 2007
We at ACSH are accustomed to media reports about trace exposure to "chemicals" causing a spectrum of diseases -- including cancer. Usually these claims come from self-appointed "consumer"/"environmental" groups like the Environmental Working Group -- and even some savvy people in the media and the general public know to take the assertions with a significant grain of salt.But today's wires and newspaper stories -- with headlines like the one in the L.A.   Read Full >>

Nutrition in Schools: Facts and Myths
By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Publication Date : Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Today the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science released its report summarizing its recommendations on "Nutrition Standards for Food in Schools."The title is a bit misleading as the guidelines refer not to the foods served in school lunch programs, but rather to the types of "competitive foods" available in schools, that is, foods sold through vending machines and other venues.Most of the report is based on sound science and common sense, with the   Read Full >>