Susan G. Komen Foundation beaten up by anti-chemical left when it found 'scant' evidence of BPA danger.
By Julia A. Seymour
Wednesday, February 08, 2012 10:03 AM EST
Fear of chemicals and "toxins" is rampant among the so-called "environmental" left. Unfortunately, that phobia infects national media coverage as well. For more than a decade, the left has been on the attack against BPA, a chemical that is commonly found in plastics and other products.
Anti-chemical groups such as the Breast Cancer Fund and some scientists have crusaded against BPA (known formally as bisphenol A), connecting it to cancer and reproductive problems and claiming that it is "a threat to human health," despite government agencies that have declared it "harmless" even in baby bottles. Much of the national media have bought in spreading fear of the chemical in ordinary canned goods, on cash register receipts, in dental sealants and more.
In just the past two years, the three broadcast networks and top five national newspapers have continued to report on the "hidden danger" of BPA, labeling it "carcinogenic" and "toxic" often with small or flawed reports from activists. Ninety-seven percent of two years' worth of newspaper and TV news stories that discussed BPA were about the supposed danger or potential threat of the chemical. This despite an Institute of Medicine study (funded by Komen) and government agencies' findings about the chemical. Just two of the 87 stories focused on research that found BPA wasn't the risk the left claims it is.
