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Publication date: April 26, 2005; Edit entry: zct.
The ins and outs of adding oil and vinegar
[news introduction]
Who really understands how Colgate changed from a "quick-acting whitening pioneer" to a "big head" in just a few days?
On June 17, an evening newspaper in Beijing was the first to publish the article "British newspapers said that toothpaste such as Colgate contained indirect carcinogens", and domestic media followed up. Two days later, Peter Weck Wexley, an American scholar who participated in the research, publicly declared that "toothpaste causes cancer" was "false news", and then it was revealed that it was not credible that British news came from third-rate tabloids. ...
A series of plots are as dazzling as movies. What is the truth?
April 2 nd
Peter Weck Wexley, an American researcher, published a paper entitled "Chloroform and Chlorine-containing Organic Compounds Produced by Trichlorobacteria Oxidation under the Control of Free Chlorine" in Environmental Science and Engineering.
Toothpaste products were not studied in the experiment.
From the beginning to the end, there are two questions about Colgate's "carcinogenic" storm that no one has told us.
1. Is Colgate toothpaste carcinogenic? If yes, where is the original research report? What is the conclusion of this scientific research? Second, who is lying, the American researcher Peter Weck Weasley or the reporter of the British Evening Standard?
According to Peter Wexley's statement in an interview with Ronaco Online Times on April 19, his original paper was published in Environmental Science and Engineering on April 2. The reporter immediately searched the full text of the paper on the website of the magazine, titled "Triclosan is oxidized to chloroform and chlorine-containing organic compounds under the control of free chlorine". Paper ***2 1 page, mainly focusing on chemical reactions in water treatment plants, supported by AWWARF and NSF.
This paper was first submitted to the magazine on July 9, 2004, and passed the examination in 2005. During the research, Peter and his colleagues simulated the dishwashing process in an environment close to home, and found that triclosan, an antibacterial substance in dishwashing agent, can react with chlorinated tap water to generate chloroform.
After reading the whole paper, the reporter found that the paper focused on simulating the dishwashing process and did not analyze any toothpaste products. Colgate's name was never mentioned in the newspaper, but the word "toothpaste" was mentioned in the products widely used by triclosan.
Regarding the health threat of triclosan-containing products, the wording of the paper is quite cautious. At the end of the paper, it is only mentioned that "chloroform produced under experimental conditions shows that chloroform may be produced through daily use of products containing triclosan." The severity of chloroform produced by skin contact and inhalation of triclosan needs to be strictly evaluated. "
Peter told the Morning Post reporter on April 2 1: "We have not done any research on toothpaste containing triclosan. I'm not sure that the possible reaction between tap water and the antibacterial soap we described will definitely happen to triclosan in toothpaste. "
April sixth,
American journalist Karin Bates published an article entitled "Chlorine+Antibacterial Agent = Unexpected Result" in Environmental Science and Engineering.
"Chemical Papers" Evolved into "Health News"
The reporter noticed that when the paper was published on April 2, the press was still silent. After all, environmental science and engineering is a scientific academic magazine, which is not concerned by the public. However, the following two news reports mentioned Peter's discovery one after another, thus introducing a simple chemical research into the field of public safety.
The first news was published in Environmental Science and Engineering on April 6, and a reporter named KellynBetts published a report in a scientific paper, which was translated as "chlorine+antibacterial agent = unexpected result". In the article, Kailin Bates reminds readers of the dangers of chloroform for the first time-"Since 2000, the American Medical Association (AMA) has urged the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor and control the use of antibacterial agents such as triclosan in China as closely as possible." Chloroform produced by triclosan has attracted people's attention, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines this compound as a substance that may cause human cancer. "
Karin Bates also interviewed Eric D. Olson, a senior agent of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit environmental organization. The other party said that "washing dishes with washing liquid containing triclosan is likely to cause these volatile substances to enter the human body through breathing and skin contact."
On April 22, during the trip, Karin answered questions from the Morning Post reporter. In an email to the Morning Post reporter, she expressed surprise. Before receiving your article, I never knew that there was such a report in Britain ... "I believe that Eric D. Olson's views in the interview are consistent with Peter Weck Sley's research."
Since then, Peter Weck Weasley has affirmed Karin Bates' statement to the Morning Post reporter.
April 13
Virginia Tech provided a press release entitled "Too clean will be harmful to your health and the environment".
Health-threatening language attracted the media.
Wexley was very unhappy with the second report-on April 13, his Virginia Tech provided a press release explaining the latest research results. However, this is a regular article, because of the strong wording of the title "Too clean will do harm to your health and the environment", "it led to the overreaction of the media."
Peter Weck Wexley said in his first email to the Morning Post reporter, "This press release itself is consistent with our research results. However, some wording in this article should be revised. Detecting the potential health threat and environmental impact of triclosan and chlorine reaction is a long-term process, and our research results are only the first step in this process. "
April 15
Kyle Preeg, a reporter from Banner Evening News, published "Toothpaste Cancer Warning" and asserted at the beginning of the article: "Nowadays, a large amount of toothpaste sold in supermarkets has become the center of cancer warning."
"Toothpaste causes cancer" became a shocking title.
Kyle Preeg, a reporter from Banner Evening News, wrote a warning about the carcinogenicity of toothpaste on April 15, two days after the publication of Too Clean will bring harm to your health and the environment. This article is far from the original content of Peter Weck Slie's paper.
The reporter called the newspaper on 20th, hoping to find Kyle Preeg to know the real situation. The front desk operator said that Kyle Preeg didn't come to the office often, and provided the reporter with Kyle Preeg's email address, but as of press time, Kyle Preeg never responded. The reporter found the original text of the news on the newspaper website.
First of all, this press release asserts in the first sentence of the article-"Nowadays, a large number of toothpaste sold in supermarkets has become the center of cancer warning." Other antibacterial products such as detergent and hand sanitizer are also involved.
The second paragraph of the article gives two positive messages: First, "the researchers found that a chemical called triclosan contained in the product can react with water to produce a gas called chloroform". This passage is likely to convince readers that the researcher (Peter) has made experiments on various antibacterial products such as toothpaste, detergent and hand sanitizer and reached this conclusion. In fact, the experimental object of Wexley's paper is detergent containing triclosan, "toothpaste products have not been analyzed".
Next, the press release pointed out, "If you inhale enough of this gas, it will lead to depression, liver disease and even cancer." There is nothing wrong with this sentence itself, but together, it is easier to believe that toothpaste, detergent and hand sanitizer containing triclosan are carcinogenic.
In Toothpaste Cancer Warning, the author hints at this connection everywhere. Colgate was named for the first time in this article-because British newspaper reporters saw that its ingredients contained triclosan.
At the end of the article, a British newspaper reporter quoted Peter Weck Wexley as saying, "This is the first time we know that consumer goods, such as antibacterial soap, can produce such a large dose of chloroform." At present, he suggested that governments should strictly control this chemical. "
Peter, on the other hand, told the Morning Post reporter that he had never said such a thing as "advising governments to strictly control this chemical substance". He believes that "this report is very inaccurate, and most of the riots caused by our research are because of this incredibly bad report."
April 2007, 65438
An evening newspaper in Beijing reprinted "Warning of Toothpaste Carcinogenesis" from Flag Evening News, and distributed the opinions of relevant domestic government departments.
The domestic media appeared that "Colgate toothpaste contains indirect carcinogens".
The British tabloid "Toothpaste Cancer Warning" did not cause much response in China, but unexpectedly, this article produced a huge "chemical reaction" in China.
The earliest domestic media that translated and reprinted this article was an evening newspaper in Beijing. Last week, the reporter found the editor on duty in Beijing. According to the other party's memory, on April 17, she found this article on the Internet and thought that "it received widespread attention like the Sudan Red incident, so she decided to publish this article." She told the Morning Post reporter that she had written to Professor Peter Weck Weasley for verification that night, but there was no reply.
The headline of this newspaper is "British newspapers say that toothpaste such as Colgate contains indirect carcinogens"-the word "Colgate" stands for popularity, making headlines for the first time.
In addition, the reporter also found that "the American College of Dental Anesthesiologists said that it is studying the problem and will understand the incident with the supplier as soon as possible." The original English word "Asda" here refers to a supermarket, not the American College of Dental Anesthesiologists, and its abbreviation is "ASDA". Since then, this sentence has been widely reprinted by the media, but no one has verified it.
However, the reporter also saw that the Evening News, while publishing English, immediately interviewed experts from relevant domestic government departments, including "there is no clear safety standard for whether toothpaste is allowed to contain triclosan" and "experts' argumentation is needed after AQSIQ considers it important", trying to balance the views of the article.
April 18
Domestic media began to scramble to report the news.
"Colgate may cause cancer" hurts Crest and others.
In this regard, April 17 became the "landing day of cancer-causing toothpaste", and domestic media from all walks of life began to report this news on April 18.
From Beijing to Guangzhou, from Xi to Shanghai, a well-founded and clear "Colgate Carcinogenesis Statement" was thrown out of thin air in front of the ignorant public.
The media continued to dig up the list of buyers obtained from triclosan manufacturers, and once the toothpaste brand was found, it was immediately moved into the list of "cancer-causing toothpaste". Crest and Jienuo, who survived the British report, collapsed in China and were tied to Colgate in the fog. There is an uproar in the legal field, and a "public health crisis" out of nothing is vigorous.
Who revealed the truth?
Under the exaggeration of a British non-mainstream media and some domestic media, a "toothpaste trust crisis" has been created.
At the same time, a few journalists began to question the British media;
The manufacturer kept a low profile for a week and made a public statement;
The merchant is caught in the middle, ready to return the goods and withdraw the cabinet;
The people are the most confused, watching the media contradict themselves. Does Colgate use it or not? Brush or not?
At this time, who dares to be the first to stand up and point out the truth he saw like the child wearing the emperor's new clothes?
Yan Liang, a reporter from the International Department of Xinhua News Agency, took the lead in singing the opposite.
Doubt: Why didn't the British mainstream media mention it?
On April 20th, when Sina.com was flooded by Colgate's cancer storm, two journalists sang "anti-tune" in their articles. One of them is Yan Liang, a reporter from the International Department of Xinhua News Agency, and the other is Peng Li, a reporter from the British News of the World.
At this time, Guangzhou Colgate-Palmolive Co., Ltd. was surrounded by media calls and was in a haze. They took pains to explain by fax, "A lot of scientific evidence and the use of global consumers for more than ten years have fully proved the effectiveness, benefits and safety of Colgate Total Toothpaste."
But the sound was obviously too weak. Under the psychology of "doubt comes from guilt", no one will believe what the "suspect" said. "To get an accurate judgment, we need to determine a standard on the basis of scientific research, experiments and data, but it takes time. At present, the National Standards Committee and relevant business departments are paying close attention to this matter. " Liu's remarks, director of the Regulation Department of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the authoritative department, have become the only statement made by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, but they obviously cannot satisfy the media's exuberant thirst for knowledge.
The information presented to the public by the media is that although it is uncertain that domestic experts have explained the harm of toothpaste containing triclosan, the power of "British foreign forces" is so great that no one thought of questioning it, or even interviewing American experts directly.
However, Yan Liang found a doubt-Colgate is a kind of toothpaste that sells well in the world, and individual domestic media should really check its source when they publish a news that Colgate toothpaste may cause cancer. We should think about why such "important" news has not been reported by science journalists in major media all over the world. Why don't mainstream British media such as BBC and Reuters mention it? To say the least, if they all missed the news, why not make up for it in the next few days?
Verification: find the research results of American professors.
Yan Liangyuan was a reporter of Xinhua News Agency in Los Angeles. He is good at scientific reporting and returned to Beijing head office more than a year ago. Yan Liang was not surprised when the reporter of the Morning Post dialed his mobile phone last Friday. According to memory, he read many domestic media reports on this matter that day, all of which were from the news "Toothpaste Cancer Warning" written by the reporter Kyle of the British "Flag Evening News" on April 15.
Yan Liang immediately went to the news material database provided by the American Association for Science (AAAS) for scientific journalists all over the world for verification, and found that the university where Peter Weck Slie, an assistant professor, worked did provide news material entitled "Too clean may be harmful to your health and environment" to the press on April 13, and introduced Peter's research results. There is no mention of "Colgate" in the article, which is quite different from the report in the British Standard Evening News.
On April 20-2 1, when the news of "toothpaste causes cancer" was rampant, the reporter saw that the online survey figures of Sina. com showed that more than 90% of consumers had trusted Colgate, but now less than 10% people are ready to continue to use this brand of toothpaste. Other more extreme consumers said that they didn't care whether Colgate toothpaste caused cancer. "If even Colgate has it, how can other toothpastes be better?" ? You always have to brush your teeth. Leave it to fate.
Another objector, British News of the World reporter Peng Li.
Survey: "Colgate withdraws from Britain" is a myth.
Almost at the same time, Peng Li, a British correspondent for the News of the World, also wrote an article "There is only one English report on Colgate's carcinogenesis in Britain" for the Beijing Evening News, telling what she saw and heard in Britain.
She once interviewed a Max&; According to an article in the Evening Standard, Spencer supermarket has removed the products containing triclosan from its shelves.
Peng Li found that there really was no Colgate here. She called a waiter and asked, Did you take Colgate off the shelf? "At first she looked at me stupefied and didn't understand what this meant. After I explained the report in the Evening Standard, she said she didn't see the report, but in her impression, Colgate toothpaste was not sold in the supermarket. She said that we have our own brand and have been selling well. Many supermarkets in Britain have their own specialized production enterprises, and the brand of products is often the brand of supermarkets. Mark Spencer falls into this category. The registered trademarks of toothpaste and hand sanitizer on its shelves are Mark &; Spencer brand. Therefore, I can't talk about Gao Lu's cleaning off the shelf here because it doesn't exist. "
"Why did such research results reach individual domestic media and evolve into' Colgate toothpaste may cause cancer'? Why did an inconclusive scientific research become a distrust of a toothpaste in China? What we need to think about is, what kind of responsibility should our media bear in the process of spreading scientific news? Is our scientific report scientific and objective? " After the investigation, Yan Liang sounded the alarm for the domestic media.