I try to keep this blog lighthearted and entertaining, but – BUT! – I must make a comment on this because it has been all over the freakin’ news, and that just upsets me as a scientist:

Policy and individual-level recommendations, especially those that come out of groups that are led by MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, should be based in evidence.

It is true that we do not have enough conclusive evidence regarding things like the effects of cell phone use on the development of brain tumors. This means we need more research. This does not mean that we should recommend that people text instead of making cell phone calls and keep calls short, as there is no science to back this recommendation – especially when those making the recommendation even cite a “2009 meta-analysis of 23 case-control studies involving almost 38,000 people (that) found no connection between cell phone use and cancerous or benign tumors.” In other words, we don’t know that there’s a connection, but just in case, let’s freak people out. All this recommendation does is cut the credibility of the people who made it.

I’m talking to you, President’s Cancer Panel.

Not that the entire report released last week is a sham. In fact, it raises many valuable questions that we as Americans should demand answers to, including regarding the effects of various radio frequency emissions, agricultural chemicals, naturally occurring radon and medical pollution. But we MUST use science, not fear, to drive policy and recommendations.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming . . . in which the Cubs get pummeled by the Cincinnati Reds two games in a row. Hmm. Maybe we should stick to science after all. :oP