the law of unintended consequences

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15208980/

A new book,“Follies of Science: 20th Century Visions of Our Fantastic Future”, by two brothers : Eric and Jonathan Dregni, chronicles predictions of the future, most of which turned out quite wrong.

In the words of this article:
"Probably the scariest parts of the book involve glowing testimonials for materials that have turned out to be public health disasters. A big mid-century magazine advertisement extols the use of lead (“the answer to the old alchemist’s dream”) throughout homes, noting that “interior walls are beautified with white-lead paint” and that “lead is in the glaze of the chinaware and that of the bathtub and sink.” "

eg.,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20061012-18133600-bc-ecowellness-perchlorate.xml

"A federally funded study, published in the October issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, found for the first time that low-level, everyday exposures to perchlorate in drinking water can reduce thyroid function in women, particularly those with low levels of iodine. "

An article about this appeared last Sunday in the AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constition). The Parade magazine in the same of the AJC contained an article about reasons why many women are tired all the time! All of the possible causes were legitimate. Certainly, inadequate sleep is pervasive in our society. One of the causes listed was low thyroid problems. However, there was no mention in the article of the possibility of adverse effects of environmental pollutants such as perchlorate.

The surprising thing about this study is that it wasn't censored by the Bush administration, as so many other scientific findings that might adversely affect big financial interests have been censored, with wording the Bushies didn't like changed or eliminated.