The New York Times, specifically pundit Nicholas Kristof, has once again demonstrated their flair for hyperbole at the price of scientific honesty. In his current column, What Poisons are In Your Body, Kristoff recounts his concern about chemicals in his environment and the recent testing of his urine for chemicals [1].
Kristof has drunk deeply from the organic, pesticide-free, endocrine disruptor-free Kool-Aid of chemical fear. In his own words,
“So I’ve tried for years now to limit my exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Following the advice of the President’s Cancer Panel, I eat organic to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors in pesticides. I try to store leftover meals in glass containers, not plastic. I avoid handling A.T.M. and gas station receipts. I try to avoid flame-retardant furniture.”To evaluate his current exposure he utilized the “Detox Me Action Kit” which tests your urine for chemical metabolites. In his first, but not last moment of playing fast and loose with the truth he describes the urine test, which costs $300, as a way for consumers to learn “what harmful substances are in their body.” The Silent Spring Institute [2], the maker of the urine test kit is a bit more circumspect in their claims. First, the “Detox Me Action Kit” is
“..part of a scientific study run by Silent Spring Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We’re crowdfunding this study to get a better sense of our collective exposure to harmful environmental chemicals.”More telling is the real disclaimer,
“These 10 chemicals [the ones tested for in the urine] have been detected at different levels in people throughout the U.S., but detecting these chemicals in your urine doesn’t mean you will get sick. It is not known if exposure levels in the general population are above or below levels that cause health effects.”...........To Read More....
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