Scientists from the American Council on Science and Health today, in an open letter to Mayor Giuliani, questioned the decision of the city to produce, at taxpayer expense, a pamphlet entitled Safeguard Your Home From Harmful Products, which suggests that numerous common household products - such as kitchen cleansers, insecticides, and mothballs - pose a serious health risk and should be discarded in favor of "all-natural" products. The booklet was apparently distributed to all city residents and signed by Giuliani and Health Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, who also received a copy of the letter from ACSH.
"At a time when New York City faces many genuine health problems - teenage smoking, drug abuse, AIDS, unvaccinated infants--and is facing a major budget crunch, it is inexplicable why the city would expend its scarce resources on a rather expensive-looking booklet attempting to frighten its residents about products that are perfectly safe when used as directed, and which make life easier for New Yorkers who already have precious little time on their hands, living in a city with one of the highest costs of living and highest tax burdens," noted ACSH president Dr. Elizabeth Whelan.
Among the scientists' objection to the booklet:
· it suggest that "organic" products are better than synthetic ones -while in fact there is no scientific basis for such a distinction - and ignores the potential health hazards of "natural" products;
· it has as its premise that our health is in grave danger because of "chemicals," while mainstream scientists have concluded that trace exposure to environmental chemicals poses little or no risk to human health;
· It cites as its sole sources self-appointed environmental groups with no scientific credentials;
· It terrifies pregnant women in particular by suggesting that they must "avoid exposure to all harmful products"-a designation that could include mushrooms and peanut butter, table salt, and honey, all of which are inherently toxic at high enough doses.
"I am curious to know whether the Mayor approved the mailing--and if not, who did," asked Dr. Whelan. "New Yorkers deserve an assurance from the Mayor that they need not be terrified of the products in their kitchen cabinet--and an assurance that in the future, their tax dollars will be spent more wisely, addressing real problems instead of hypothetical ones."