English Version Het Laatste Nieuws -
Friday 09 September 2005
Extract from Het Laatste Nieuws, page 7, 9 September 2005
Website: http://www.hln.be
By Peter Verbruggen
Free Translation of original article
"Don?t believe all those researches"
Professors concerned at proliferation of ' scientific studies'
BRUSSELS
Upheaval in the medical world yesterday. Research has shown that unborn babies already have 20 toxic substances in their little bodies. Greenpeace, who requested the research, immediately pleaded for a strict restriction of chemical products. If such a "noisy" study is published by a lobbyist group, chances are that it only provides selective information. Their agendas need to get to the media and therefore: less information rather than all the information. How serious should we consider such "scientific research" to be. One week British research asked not to use too much toothpaste and seven days later American research warned of deadly infection due to unbrushed teeth. It is just too much, scientists sigh, people can't see the wood for the trees.
It has been raining research results in the past weeks. And every time the conclusions have been more surprising and unexpected. Above all: Even before one research has been rounded up the next one would contradict the first one. The biggest problem are the unreliable results, says Professor Cassiman (University of Leuven). As long as you do not know how thorough a study has been conducted or who is the sponsor, the results make little sense. It happens regularly that lobbyist groups 'correct' the research studies. What's the use They only lead to deceive.
Cassiman: Moreover, too often one compares apples with pears. If you give mice kilos of a certain product, they will most likely die. However, when you find tiny quantities of that same substance within unborn babies, one cannot draw the same conclusions. I really have the impression that some studies want to push us in a glass cage: when food is not biologically grown or washed with sterile water, there is a risk. This is incorrect. Unfortunately it is often more important to have the press writing about the topic rather than explaining the research. The one who has a headline first, is more likely to get money more quickly for another study. This is a vicious circle. But it is unfair when people, especially pregnant women, are frightened by these results. Unfortunately it happens more and more. Health has become important in our life. Healthism we would like to call this trend, says professor Medical Law Herman Nys. It is good that we are warned in time for possible risks, but people should not exaggerate. In time this will cause problems. Someone who would adapt his life according to these studies, simply would not have a life. I can only hope that people will use their common sense. Whatever all these studies may claim: eating and drinking are important to be happy.
THE GOOD PART
Professor and toxicologist Jan Tytgat (Laboratory of Toxicology and Food Chemistry, University Leuven) has the same story: "If they prove that unborn babies have antibacterial substances in their bodies, people fear for damage to the liver of the embryo because that would be the conclusion. I would still have to see the first child of which the negative effects by ordinary use of toothpaste and deodorant are demonstrable.
Still there is a good side of this overload of studies. People have become more aware, says professor Cassiman, Even though the results are contradictive they do sensitize people.
Website: http://www.hln.be
By Peter Verbruggen
Free Translation of original article
"Don?t believe all those researches"
Professors concerned at proliferation of ' scientific studies'
BRUSSELS
Upheaval in the medical world yesterday. Research has shown that unborn babies already have 20 toxic substances in their little bodies. Greenpeace, who requested the research, immediately pleaded for a strict restriction of chemical products. If such a "noisy" study is published by a lobbyist group, chances are that it only provides selective information. Their agendas need to get to the media and therefore: less information rather than all the information. How serious should we consider such "scientific research" to be. One week British research asked not to use too much toothpaste and seven days later American research warned of deadly infection due to unbrushed teeth. It is just too much, scientists sigh, people can't see the wood for the trees.
It has been raining research results in the past weeks. And every time the conclusions have been more surprising and unexpected. Above all: Even before one research has been rounded up the next one would contradict the first one. The biggest problem are the unreliable results, says Professor Cassiman (University of Leuven). As long as you do not know how thorough a study has been conducted or who is the sponsor, the results make little sense. It happens regularly that lobbyist groups 'correct' the research studies. What's the use They only lead to deceive.
Cassiman: Moreover, too often one compares apples with pears. If you give mice kilos of a certain product, they will most likely die. However, when you find tiny quantities of that same substance within unborn babies, one cannot draw the same conclusions. I really have the impression that some studies want to push us in a glass cage: when food is not biologically grown or washed with sterile water, there is a risk. This is incorrect. Unfortunately it is often more important to have the press writing about the topic rather than explaining the research. The one who has a headline first, is more likely to get money more quickly for another study. This is a vicious circle. But it is unfair when people, especially pregnant women, are frightened by these results. Unfortunately it happens more and more. Health has become important in our life. Healthism we would like to call this trend, says professor Medical Law Herman Nys. It is good that we are warned in time for possible risks, but people should not exaggerate. In time this will cause problems. Someone who would adapt his life according to these studies, simply would not have a life. I can only hope that people will use their common sense. Whatever all these studies may claim: eating and drinking are important to be happy.
THE GOOD PART
Professor and toxicologist Jan Tytgat (Laboratory of Toxicology and Food Chemistry, University Leuven) has the same story: "If they prove that unborn babies have antibacterial substances in their bodies, people fear for damage to the liver of the embryo because that would be the conclusion. I would still have to see the first child of which the negative effects by ordinary use of toothpaste and deodorant are demonstrable.
Still there is a good side of this overload of studies. People have become more aware, says professor Cassiman, Even though the results are contradictive they do sensitize people.
