05/29/06 Sanity and environmental toxins

The media constantly warns parents of the dangers of environmental toxins. Dr. Robert L. Bent a specialist who studies the effects of radiation, drugs and chemicals on the developing embryo and children, thinks the majority of these stories are sensationalized so he spoke to the New York Times to help calm parents fears about environmental hazards. He said that Americans spend millions of dollars cleaning up compounds that pose little or no risk and he tells of one case where individuals really overreacted, wanting to tear down a house after finding radon when the solution was a basement fan to blow it out. While the media focus on alerting pregnant mothers about the danger of mercury in fish, Dr. Bent thinks the risk of herbal medicines used during pregnancy more alarming because they are not FDA approved, nor regulated. He also debunks the myth that all bottled waters are healthier saying that in many cases city water is safer. Bottom line, be savvy news consumers and don't believe everything you read or hear