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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 2015)
OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 GUEST COLUMN Founded in 1873 STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager I We must take care of ourselves n countless ways, plastics remain one of the milestone in- dustrial accomplishments of the post-World War II era. But along with other manmade chemicals, they come with down- sides we are only now coming to realize. This is the message of re- cent studies and cautionary arti- cles, including one by Nicholas Kristof in today’s Daily Astorian. Kristof’s disturbing warnings come at the same time as news from the University California-Davis that plastic ¿EHUV ² DV ZHOO DV WKRVH IURP QDWXUDO IDEULFV ² DUH D QHDUO\ invisible but rampant form of water pollution. Kristof’s report summariz- es warnings by the Endocrine Society and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. In both cases, con- cerns are most severe when it comes to chemical exposures for unborn babies, along with expecting mothers and their young children. But chemicals are an “equal-opportunity” pol- lutant, also causing adult can- cers and disruptions of hormon- al systems at all ages, resulting in soaring rates of diabetes and obesity. Each year, toxic environmen- tal chemicals result in millions of premature deaths and billions of dollars in damage, the IFGO continues. (See www.tinyurl. com/IFGOstatement.) The main trust of Kristof’s story is that the health impacts of chemicals are being mini- mized in the same way tobac- co’s were. He notes chemical lobbyists spent the equivalent of $121,000 per member of Congress last year. 0HDQZKLOH SODVWLF ¿EHUV IURP V\QWKHWLF ÀHHFH LQ FORWK- ing are being found in ap- palling quantities in the en- YLURQPHQW ² SDUWLFXODUO\ WKH ocean. (See www.tinyurl.com/ FiberPollution.) Along with plastic microbeads in prod- ucts like cosmetics and tooth- SDVWHWKH¿EHUVZRUNWKHLUZD\ through the food chain. Human and animal health are harmed. Living as we do at the in- WHUVHFWLRQ RI WKH 3DFL¿F 2FHDQ and an enormous watershed, we must be zealous advocates for our own children on these matters. Tell members of our congressional delegation this is an issue that will win or lose our votes for them. Refer to www. ewg.org/consumer-guides for helpful advice about avoiding dangerous chemicals in food and products. Support efforts to minimize the toxic effects of big money in American politics. We must take care of our- selves. Clearly, the chemical in- dustry won’t to it for us. What do you associate with party labels? “spend,” “party,” “gov- “conservative,” “govern- ernment,” “tax,” “support” PHQW´ ³SDUW\´ ³¿VFDO´ and “environment.” Dem- and “responsible.” As for WKH QRQDI¿OLDWHGRWKHUV hat would you write if ocrats, that’s your party’s the Top 5 associations you were asked to re- image among all voters, were “conservative,” but what about by par- FRUG WKH ¿UVW WKLQJ QR PRUH ty registration? Are there “business,” “right,” “par- than 10 words) that comes to differences in how Demo- ty” and “old.” That “old,” ouch. crats see themselves com- mind when you hear the words Both parties might con- pared to the perceptions of “the media.” Or the words sider some image triage 5HSXEOLFDQVDQGQRQDI¿OL- Adam “big business?” Or “teachers’ ated/others? and recalibrating their Davis communications to better unions?” Let’s break it down. 7KH WRS ¿YH ZRUGV DVVRFLDWHG connect with members of their par- Think about it. Give yourself a by Republicans with the Demo- W\DQGQRQDI¿OLDWHGRWKHUV%RWKWKH couple of seconds with each one. cratic Party were: “liberal,” “tax,” Democratic and Republican parties In the world of opinion research, “spend,” “social” and “govern- are associated by Oregon voters this exercise is a form of qualitative ment” compared to Democrats’ ZLWK SROLWLFV DQG JRYHUQPHQW²QRW research. It can be done through “progressive,” “liberal,” “people,” surprising since they’re both polit- open-ended questions in surveys or “party” and “environment.” The ical parties and part of governance, written exercises in focus groups, 7RS ZRUGV DPRQJ QRQDI¿OLDWHG but unfortunate in that voters feel so and the results teach us not only RWKHUV²DJURXSLPSRUWDQWWRERWK negatively about these items. Other how people feel about something, parties in Oregon as traditional negative associations these days in- but also why they party registrations cludes “spending” and “taxes” for feel that way. The se- GZLQGOH ² ZHUH WKH'HPRFUDWVDQG³VHO¿VK´³ULFK´ ‘Gun’ was “liberal,” “govern- and “big” for Republicans. mantics and imagery The parties may want to consid- “freely” associated ment,” “big,” “so- No.29 for er doing more to be associated with with the name of an cial” and “party.” organization or in- As for the Re- what Oregon voters feel is import- Democrats publican dividual are invalu- Party, a ant and/or feel positive about. Education, for instance, is a top able in formulating randomly selected and No. public relations and listing of associ- issue that Oregon voters want their 12 for advertising. ations among all JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV WR GR VRPH- What would we voters yields: “Most thing about. For the Democrats, learn if Oregonians Republicans. harmful,” “business “education” was word No.63 and it were asked to free for their friends,” wasn’t even on the list for Repub- associate with the Democratic and “pro-life,” “big believers in low licans. The environment is what Orego- Republican, parties? This is exact- taxes for business,” “mainly in- ly what DHM Research explored in sane” and a couple of longer ones nians value most about living in the a recent statewide survey of regis- ²³UDFLVPIRUULFKSHRSOHELJRWV state, including clean air, clean wa- WHUHG YRWHUV 3DUW\ RI¿FLDOV FDP- anti-gay, anti-immigrant, hypocriti- ter and natural beauty. Where’s the paign managers, and candidates cal, noncompromising, self-serving, association with the environment? should perhaps consider what we UHOLJLRXVXQ$PHULFDQ´DQG¿QDOO\ For the Republicans, it was No. 36 IRXQG²WKHJRRGWKHEDGDQGWKH one also with a political scientist and for Democrats No.10. Some other tidbits. “Gun” was GRZQULJKWXJO\²DVDQHDUO\KRO- EHQW WR LW ³WU\LQJ WR UHÀHFW PRUH iday gift to help with communica- true and traditional Constitutional No.29 for Democrats and No. 12 tions going into 2016. governance such as limited role of for Republicans; “women” was Starting with the Democratic federal government, greater state’s No. 47 for Democratic Party and Party, representative associations rights and person freedoms, but do- No. 42 for Republicans; and “mon- recorded by over 600 Oregon voters ing a terrible job of communicating H\´ZDVDQHDUWLH²1RIRUWKH Democratic Party and No. 13 for included: “Least harmful,” “Lib- that message.” erally leaning,” “Raise minimum Random selection! The Top 10 Republicans. 7KHUHLWLV²DORRNLQWKHPLU- wage,” “Freedom,” “Spending words associated with the party money,” “Progressive, concerned by all voters were: “conservative,” URUIRU\RXSDUW\RI¿FLDOVFDPSDLJQ about people of all classes” and a “party,” “right,” “business,” “gov- managers and candidates. And little longer than 10 words, “Lib- ernment,” “people,” “religious,” hopefully food for thought for com- munications … and an early holiday eral, progressive, rational, compas- ³ULFK´³VHO¿VK´DQG³ELJ´ sionate, reasonable, compromising, There you are Republicans. As gift. Adam Davis, who has been con- team oriented, encompassing will- for analysis by party registration, ing to grow and evolve.” among Democrats the Top 5 words ducting opinion research in Oregon Doing a word count, the Top 10 for the Republican Party were: for more than 35 years, is a found- words associated with the Demo- “conservative, “party,” “right,” ing principal in DHM Research, an cratic Party were “liberal,” “pro- “people” and “business,” compared independent, nonpartisan ¿rm 9isit gressive,” “social,” “people,” to Republicans about themselves: wwwdhmresearchcom By ADAM DAVIS For Oregon Capital Insider W Polluting our bodies with toxic chemicals Our goal should be reduce the uninsured I W e say we live in an Information Age. Yet we are awash in misinformation. At times it seems there is an imitation of Gresham’s Law (bad money drives out good). In 21st century America it seems like bad information drives out good. Science is typically the best example of this phenomenon. Among the things America has unlearned or forgotten is public health. The great, widespread positive effects that vaccination created in the 20th century are being undone in the 21st. When an electorate votes against its personal welfare, it is a head-scratcher. Prior to the November election, Kentucky, the only Southern state to fully embrace Obamacare, had the lowest level of uninsured cit- izens among those states. But Matt Bevin, the Republican who won the race for gover- nor has vowed to roll back the expansion of Medicaid that his Democratic predecessor engi- neered. The New York Times re- ported Friday that low-income Kentuckians are hurrying to health clinics before Bevin can WDNHDZD\WKHLUEHQH¿WV One of the startling details that Abby Goodnough of the Times provides is that Bevin won the Kentucky counties with the highest percentage of citi- zens on Medicaid. Voter turnout statewide was 31 percent. The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, needs retooling. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is among those who are ready to put together adjustments. But in the Republican obsession with all things Obama, The GOP has backed itself and people, such as those who live in Kentucky, into a corner. Will the new governor, Mr. Bevin, say: “Now I must take away the access to health care you have under Medicaid.” It really is a good thing to diminish the number of unin- sured Americans. Those gains can be seen in Oregon and oth- er states that have embraced the Affordable Care Act. Editorials that appear on this page are written by Publisher Steve Forrester and Matt Winters, editor of the Chinook Observer and Coast River Business Journal, or staff members from the EO Media *roup¶s sister newspapers This warning now rep- safe before they go on the resents the medical main- marketplace.” In fact, most are assumed to be safe un- stream. It was drafted by less proved otherwise. n recent weeks, two major med- experts from the American Of the 80,000 or more College of Obstetricians and ical organizations have issued chemicals in global com- Gynecologists, the American independent warnings about toxic Society for Reproductive merce today, only a tiny chemicals in products all around Medicine, the World Health share have been rigorously screened for safety. Even Organization, Britain’s Roy- us. when a substance is retired al College of Obstetricians Unregulated substances, they say, because of health concerns, and Gynecologists, and sim- Nicholas are sometimes linked to breast and ilar groups. the replacement chemical Kristof prostate cancer, genital deformities, may be just as bad. Such medical profession- obesity, diabetes and infertility. “It’s frustrating to see the same als are on the front lines. They are the “Widespread exposure to toxic envi- ones confronting rising cases of hypo- story over and over,” Woodruff said. ronmental chemicals threatens healthy spadias, a birth defect in which boys are “Animal studies, in vitro tests or early human reproduction,” the International born with a urethra opening on the side human studies show that chemical A Federation of Gynecology and Obstet- of the penis rather than at the tip. They causes adverse effects. The chemical rics warned in a landmark statement are the ones treating women with breast industry says, ‘Those are bad studies, last month. cancer. Both are conditions linked to show me the human evidence.’ The hu- The warnings are a reminder that the early exposure to endocrine disrupters. man evidence takes years and requires chemical industry has The other major that people get sick. We should not have inherited the mantle organization that re- to use the public as guinea pigs.” The Europe is moving toward testing of Big Tobacco, min- cently issued a warn- imizing science and ing is the Endocrine chemicals before they go on the mar- chemical resisting regulation in Society, the interna- ket, but the United States is a laggard ways that cause dev- tional association of because of the power of the chemical lobby astating harm to un- doctors and scientists lobby. Chemical safety legislation now suspecting citizens. spent the who deal with the before the Senate would require the En- vironmental Protection Agency to start In the 1950s, re- hormone system. equivalent VHDUFKHUV ZHUH ¿QG- “Emerging ev- a safety assessment of only 25 chemi- ing that cigarettes ties endo- FDOVLQWKH¿UVW¿YH\HDUV²DQG+RXVH of $121,000 idence caused cancer, but crine-disrupting legislation isn’t much better. the political system per member chemical exposure “There are almost endless parallels lagged in responding. to two of the biggest with the tobacco industry,” says An- of Congress public health threats drea Gore, a professor of pharmacolo- Now the same thing is happening with IDFLQJVRFLHW\²GL- gy at the University of Texas at Austin last year. toxic chemicals. abetes and obesity,” and editor of the journal Endocrinol- The gynecolo- the Endocrine So- ogy. For now, experts say the best ap- gy federation’s focus is on endocrine ciety said in announcing its 150-page disrupters, chemicals that imitate sex ³VFLHQWL¿F VWDWHPHQW´ ,W DGGHG WKDW proach is for people to try to protect hormones and often confuse the body. “mounting evidence” also ties endo- themselves. Especially for women who Endocrine disrupters are found in pes- crine disrupters to infertility, prostate are pregnant or may become pregnant, ticides, plastics, shampoos and cos- cancer, undescended testicles, testicular and for young children, try to eat organ- metics, cash register receipts, food can cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, ic, reduce the use of plastics, touch cash OLQLQJVÀDPHUHWDUGDQWVDQGFRXQWOHVV ovarian cancer and neurological issues. register receipts as little as possible, try other products. Sometimes these problems apparently WR DYRLG ÀDPHUHWDUGDQW FRXFKHV DQG “Exposure to toxic chemicals during arise in adults because of exposures de- consult the consumer guides at www. ewg.org. pregnancy and lactation is ubiquitous,” cades earlier in fetal stages. The chemical lobby spent the equiv- the organization cautioned, adding that “The threat is particularly great virtually every pregnant woman in when unborn children are exposed,” the alent of $121,000 per member of Con- gress last year, so expect chemical com- America has at least 43 different chem- Endocrine Society warned. ical contaminants in her body. It cited a Tracey J. Woodruff of the Univer- SDQLHVWRHQMR\VWURQJTXDUWHUO\SUR¿WV 1DWLRQDO&DQFHU,QVWLWXWHUHSRUW¿QGLQJ sity of California, San Francisco notes, more boys to be born with hypospadias that “to a disturbing extent babies are “One myth about chemicals is that the and more women to die unnecessarily born ‘pre-polluted.’” U.S. government makes sure they’re of breast cancer. By NICHOLAS KRISTOF New York Times News Service