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--This morning, the buzz among ACSH staffers was about a sidebar from the front page of the Science Times section of the New York Times about former president Jimmy Carter's family and pancreatic cancer. When asked why he was spared when his father and his siblings succumbed to the disease, Carter said, "The only difference between me and my father and my siblings was that I never smoked a cigarette." So, it's a combination of genetics and lifestyle, Dr. Elizabeth Whelan suggested.
--When it comes to large spending bills, it's anticipated the federal government will take on the rebuilding of the Minneapolis bridge that collapsed last week. Associate Director Jeff Stier posed the question, Why spend now but not before? Is it a one-time response rather than an ongoing rational policy, a question also raised by last week's lead paint scare? Others around the table suggested a disaster opens the eyes of public officials to deficiencies in public policy and/or spending, but the question remains, wouldn't it be more efficient to open the federal pocketbook before a tragedy rather than as a belated response?
--Bigger may not be better, according to the latest obesity study released by the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The report suggests that infants born to obese mothers are 1/3 more likely to suffer birth defects, such as spina bifida. ACSH plans to delve deeper into the study in order to decide whether or not to include it in its upcoming book on obesity dangers. That book will resemble our overview-of-health-effects book Cigarettes: What the Warning Label Doesn't Tell You.
--As far as big-name movie stars go, few are larger than Lindsay Lohan. Staffers agreed they enjoyed ACSH contributor Stanton Peele's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about the actress, "Bad Advice for Lindsay Lohan." The article directed a multitude of unrealistic orders at Lohan, including that she never drink a sip of alcohol again. Essentially, he's suggesting abstinence is not a realistic option and she should consider the moderation approach, as was discussed at an ACSH seminar on harm reduction.
--And when it comes to the portion-size of sunscreen, NYT agrees with ACSH that size matters. The article "With Sunscreens, High SPF Ratings are Best" echoed Patricia Ludwig's statement that sunbathers need at least 2 oz. of sunscreen to make the most of the SPF label.
Corrie Driebusch is an intern at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
