In the beginning, Becca Yeamans-Irwin and I (Biographies) began with the idea of a book which would be based solidly on peer-reviewed, published science and which could be easily understood by a non-scientist.
As we studied, absorbed, curated, summarized and wrote about thousands of peer-reviewed studies, the book took second place to a more involved scientific endeavor. We are still committed to creating a site where the science is translated for comprehension by the layperson. The focus of an eventual book has changed substantially.
Moving Toward “How” With A Supporting Dose Of “Why”
The mission has changed because we realized that most people would rather know HOW to eliminate harmful chemicals from their life than understand all about WHY the substances do what they do. Much of that epiphany came as the result of feedback from non-scientists who read the initial “chapters.”
But we also realized that a substantial number of those laypeople would want to understand what was happening in a scientific manner and to know that our information is based on the best science available. That is why this web site has continued to expand with explanations of the basics.
In order to avoid the unsupported statements, unattributed facts, hearsay and “from the hip” advice that plague too many how-to books, we are determined to make sure that anyone who wants to fact-check or BS-detect the how-to book, can do so on this site.
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Center for Research on Environmental Chemicals in Humans: a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation for continued biomedical research.
Countering Misinformation
In addition, there is so much false, deceptive, incorrect, and deliberately confusing information foisted on the public by chemical companies, we wanted people to understand the knowledge fraud, how to spot, it and how to recognize valid science when they saw it.
That is a primary reason that the past few months have focused on gathering solid science to show the depth of misinformation and deception that exists.
Syndrome = Greater Accuracy
As a consumer book title, “Stealth Epidemic” has a nice ring to it.
But as our focus changed, the word “epidemic” has become less appropriate and has connotations that are too alarmist for the science-based mission of this site.
In addition, “epidemic” also implies a single disease.
In reality, the health risks of hormone disruptors consist of a series of more vaguely defined symptoms that — when considered together — comprise a syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is one example. This is a term that physicians apply to individuals presenting with a number of manifestations that incude obesity, high blood pressure, insulin and blood sugar disorders.
Hormone disruptors contribute to each of the elements in metabolic syndrome. But the same hormone disruptors can also cause or accelerate cellular disorders underpinning cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, infertility and developmental disorders.
Syndrome is more accurate.
The Human Lab Rat
We are all human lab rats who are unwilling test subjects every day thanks to the unconsenting (and therefore unethical) exposure to chemicals whose safety has never been proven.
Because we test animals would like to have more control over our exposures, the “human lab rat” portion of the mission has moved to the top of the priority list.
For more on that, please see Stealth Syndromes Project: Experimental Protocol).
We hope to bring a controlled structure that will offer some insight into the unmeasured and unauthorized experiments.
We hope to begin this experiment this summer (2015).
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