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If anything science is not quick enough to note the negative effects of common products. Vioxx, aspirin, acetaminophen, tobacco, and tanning beds all come to mind when asked this question. Yes, they may have noted negative effects that are outweighed by positive benefits for some products, but at least they recognized the potential for harm.

Caffeine and alcohol have negative side effects in all people, but benefits in some, therefore the negatives were noted. Also, the benefits were not found until after other studies had been completed with less promising results. There is a lot of luck and genetic roulette involved in having espresso prevent cancer and wine prevent heart disease. Meanwhile, too much alcohol will damage your liver and too much caffeine will alter your hormonal balance and neural networks almost regardless of other contexts.

If aspirin was brought before the FDA today it would not be approved. The way in which it alleviates pain is nearly unknown and it has too many harsh side effects including eating away the stomach lining. Yet it is on the market because science did not jump to any conclusions about it and looked past any negative effects at the benefits. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage in conjunction with other products, specifically alcohol, yet it is on the market.

Long term studies of pharmaceuticals are not being done until after they are on the market. Vioxx lead to deaths, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) lead to cancer, estrogen treatment and birth control lead to blood clots and strokes as well as hormonal imbalances, and new vaccines are being put on the market for young girls without sterility testing. Science is not condemning harmful products fast enough!

Tobacco is a well known product with lots of money at stake in the decision to sell it despite the fact that it contains hundreds of chemicals, many of which have been shown to cause cancer in healthy individuals. Using the product results in the formation of even more cancer causing compounds and initiators that promote genetically predisposed cancers. It also contains an addictive compound, yet is still on the market while any other addictive substances are condemned. Tanning beds have a similar situation of being shown to cause cancer, exposure to UV rays leading to skin malformation. Yet there is not condemnation of them.

Science observes, experiments, and measures. They report what they find. If it is something negative about a product then they should by all means tell us! If they recommend not using it then they have reasons. There will always be something unknown, both good and bad, about it. It is the media and reporters who play the shock card and say "Stop using it! It will kill you!" But for some products, it's the consumer who needs to shout that instead.

Learn more about this author, Alicia M Prater PhD.
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