HPV Vaccine, Arsenic in Apple Juice, and Hydraulic Fracturing Among Top Scares
The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) today released its annual list of the Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares. Topping the 2011 list is the HPV vaccine, a health scare fueled by anti-vaccine activists and presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann.
"HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country, and preventing this infection is an important concern for the entire population," says ACSH President Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. "The HPV vaccine is safe and effective, but irresponsible claims by activists and politicians have affected its use, with unfortunate public health consequences."
ACSH's Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares list includes:
1. HPV Vaccine
2. Arsenic in Apple Juice
3. Gulf Coast Fish
4. Hydraulic Fracturing ("fracking")
5. Sunscreens
6. Water Fluoridation
7. Cell Phones
8. Genetically Modified Fish
9. Fragrances
10. Phthalates
"We see baseless scares about dozens, if not hundreds, of public health topics throughout the year," says ACSH Executive and Medical Director Dr. Gilbert Ross. "Our mission is to expose the junk science that is so prevalent in our society today, and to set the record straight on the pervasive drumbeat of misinformation spread by gullible or sensation-craving media that abounds. The unnecessary fears of safe and effective products and technology lead to excessive precaution and over-regulation that stifle scientific and technological progress. The American people are the ultimate victims."
The 2011 Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares report, which you can read in its entirety here, covers the origin of each scare, its media coverage, and ACSH's perspective on the issue based on sound science.
ACSH is an independent non-profit consumer education organization directed and advised by nearly 400 prominent physicians, scientists, and policy experts. For more information, visit www.acsh.org.
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