By Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
Posted: Friday, July 25, 2008

LETTER
Publication Date: July 25, 2008

This letter originally appeared on July 25, 2008 in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Lisa Stiffler's Wednesday article reporting that University of Washington researchers have concluded that "chemicals" in detergents and air fresheners may be hazardous to our health is further proof that Americans -- including some with university teaching posts -- are in the grip of nosophobia (defined as a morbid dread of illness). Fragrances now join a growing list of allegedly harmful products -- plastic bottles, rubber duckies, shower curtains, Astroturf, traditional produce raised with agricultural chemicals, aspartame, acrylamide, etc. The list seems to be growing like...well, "toxic mold."

Nosophobia is causing us to abandon safe, useful products of modern technology to avoid phantom risks while obscuring the real risks around us. While parents are fretting over BPA traces in baby bottles or phthalates in plastic toys, they may well be giving short shrift to the real threats to their children's health, including failure to use seatbelts, bike helmets, smoke detectors, vaccinations, proper nutrition and exercise.


Dr. Elizabeth Whelan
President
American Council on Science and Health
New York, NY