Page numbers listed correspond to the print edition of this book. You can use your device’s search function to locate particular terms in the text.
acetaminophen, 134–39
airline transportation, 299
airport body scanners, 308–11
alcohol, 13, 72–77, 137
aluminum, 186–90
Alzheimer’s disease, 12, 187, 200
American Cancer Society, 69, 187
American Medical Association, 40, 357
amoeba. See brain-eating amoeba
amusement park rides, 322–26
anesthesia. See general anesthesia
antibiotics, in food animals, 82, 96–101
artificial sweeteners, 24, 63
asbestos, 179–83
aspartame, 24
aspirin, 134
asteroid strikes, 345–49
babesiosis, 278
babies. See children
bacteria
animals, 242, 248, 260
HAIs, 158-60
insulin, 39
milk, 53
See also antibiotics, in food animals; necrotizing fasciitis; specific types
Bartonella henselae, 241
bears, 245–50
bedbugs, 313–16
bees, 253–57
benzene, 23
birth control pills. See oral contraception
birthing, in a hospital, 111–15
bisphenol-A. See BPA
black widow spiders, 271–72
blindness, 17, 62
blood clotting, 106-07, 236
Bolt, U., 247
Borrelia burgdorferi, 276–77
BPA, 223–26, 338
brain-eating amoeba, 123–27
brown recluse spiders, 272
BSE, 81
Bt crops, 39
buses and trains, 298–99
The Business of Being Born, 111
caesarean delivery, 113
caffeine, 11–15
Campylobacter bacteria, 86-87, 242, 260
chemicals, 194, 200-02, 207, 224, 228–29
dietary supplements, 17
do-it-yourself research, 359
environment, 164, 180–81
food, 12, 62, 73, 80–81
food additives, 23–24
medicine, 107, 148–49
metals, 187
Teflon, 67
toys made in China, 338
travel, 305, 309
cardiovascular disease. See heart disease
catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), 158
cats, 240–44
cat-scratch fever, 241
cavities, 64, 203
See also dental amalgams
CCD. See colony collapse disorder (CCD)
CDC. See U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
C. difficile infections. See Clostridium bacteria
celiac disease (CD), 34
cell phones. See mobile phones
central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), 157–58
childbirth. See birthing, in a hospital
children
DEET, 229
flame retardants, 194–95
food, 13
lead, 211–14
medical errors, 131
mercury, 218
China, 98, 180
See also toys made in China
chocolate, 12
chronic stress, 1–2
CLABSIs. See central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
Clostridium bacteria, 86, 97, 153, 157, 159
coffee, 12, 29
colistin, 98
colony collapse disorder (CCD), 255
colorings. See food additives
computed tomography (CT) scans, 148
conflicts of interest, 25, 358
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, 337
contraception. See oral contraception
control, taking, 2, 354
CPSC. See U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
cruise ships, 317–21, 332
Cryptosporidium bacteria, 303–4
C-sections, 113
CT scans. See computed tomography (CT) scans
Dahl, E., 320
DEET, 227–31, 279
dementia. See Alzheimer’s disease; Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
dengue, 282
dental amalgams, 219
diabetes
alcohol, 73
caffeine, 12–13
chemicals, 224
fat, 91
meat, 81
sugar, 62-63
dietary supplements, 16–21
doctoral degrees, 355–56
dogs, 240, 259–63
do-it-yourself research, 355–60
DuPont Company, 66
Ebola virus, 116–21
E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria
food safety, 49, 53, 81, 86–87
public places, 294, 298, 303, 319
economy. See fair trade
elevators, 288–91
energy drinks, 13
EPA. See U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
ergotism, 170
estrogen, 223–24
ethanol. See alcohol
European Union
environment, 180
food, 22, 40
toys made in China, 337–38
travel, 309, 318
fair trade, 29–32
farmers. See fair trade
fat, 91–95
FDA. See U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Federal Communications Commission, 165
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 207
fertilizers
antibiotics, in food animals, 96
food safety, 85
formaldehyde, 207
organic produce, 45–49
salt, 56
fiber, 62
fillings, dental, 219
first aid kits, 364
fish, 219–20
fish oil, 17
flame retardants, 193–97
Fleming, A., 98
flesh-eating infections, 153–56
See also brain-eating amoeba
fluoride, 199–205
foam. See polyurethane foam
Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Act of 1938, 22
food additives, 22–27
food colorings, 23
food safety, 18–19, 22–23, 85–90
See also BPA; fish; genetically modified organisms (GMOs); organic produce; pasteurized milk
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), 86–87
Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011, 25
formaldehyde, 206–10
fructose, 63
furniture
bedbugs, 314-315
flame retardants, 193–95
formaldehyde, 207–208
Gastroenterology, 34
general anesthesia, 141–45
genetically modified organisms (GMOs), 38–43
Giardia intestinalis, 303
global economy. See fair trade
gluten, 33–37
GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), 18, 24–25
HAIs. See health care-associated infections (HAIs)
hand washing, 294–95, 300, 320
HBO. See hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO)
health care-associated infections (HAIs), 157–61
heart disease
alcohol, 73
caffeine, 12
chemicals, 212, 224
dietary supplements, 17, 19
fat, 93–94
meat, 81
medicine, 106
salt, 57–58
sugar, 62–63
ticks, 278
herbicides, 39–40
home births, 112–13
The Hot Zone (Preston), 116
Household Products Database, 208
hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO), 154–55
ibuprofen, 134, 136
imaging. See airport body scanners; medical imaging
immune deficiencies, 113, 169, 241–42
See also antibiotics, in food animals
infant mortality rates, 112
infants. See children
infections. See brain-eating amoeba; Ebola virus; flesh-eating infections; health care-associated infections (HAIs); specific bacteria strains
inoculations. See vaccines
insecticides, 39
insect repellents. See DEET
insects. See specific types
insulin, 39
IOM. See U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM)
iron overdoses, 17
King, W., 128
lead, 211–15, 337
Listeria bacteria, 53, 81, 86-87
Lyme disease, 276–277
mad cow disease, 81
magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), 149–50
malaria, 282
mass-transit vehicles. See public transportation
meat, 79–84, 88
See also antibiotics, in food animals
medical degrees, 356
medical errors, 128–33
medical imaging, 147–52
medications, 12–13
See also specific types
mercury, 217–22
mesothelioma, 180
metal detectors. See airport body scanners
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 298
Microsporum canis fungus, 260
microwave ovens, 175–78
milk. See pasteurized milk
Minamata disease, 219
mobile phones, 164–68
mold, 169–73
mosquitoes, 228, 281–85
mosquito repellants. See DEET
MRI. See magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), 298
Naegleria fowleri. See brain-eating amoeba
NAS. See U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
National Cancer Institute, 165, 187
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 165, 213
National Organic Program, 46
National Safety Council, 323–24
National Toxicology Program (NTP), 165, 207, 212, 224
Nature Medicine, 113
NCGS. See non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS)
necrotizing fasciitis, 153–56
neti pots, 124–25
New England Journal of Medicine, 58
nitrites and nitrates, 24
non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), 34
nonstick cookware. See Teflon
noroviruses, 317–19
NTP. See National Toxicology Program (NTP)
nursing women. See pregnant and nursing women
obesity
chemicals, 194, 224
food, 13, 62, 91
medicine, 113, 143
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 165, 179
omega-3 fatty acids, 17
oral contraception, 105–10
organic produce, 45–51, 87–88
Outbreak, 116
PAM. See brain-eating amoeba
parabens, 23–24
parasites, 81, 241–42, 260, 278, 281
Parkinson’s disease, 12, 46
Pasteurella multocida bacteria, 240–41
pasteurized milk, 52–55
Pauling, L., 17
pesticides
bees, 255
chemicals, 207
food, 19, 39–40, 46, 48–49, 85, 87–88
medicine, 108
PET scans. See positron emission tomography (PET),
Pew Charitable Trust, 24–25
PFAs. See Teflon
PhDs, 355–56
pirates, 331–35
Plunkett, R., 66
polyurethane foam, 193
positron emission tomography (PET), 148–49
poverty. See fair trade
pregnant and nursing women
animals, 242–43
chemicals, 195, 229
food, 13, 74–75, 81, 87
medicine, 106–07, 136
See also birthing, in a hospital
preservatives, 23
Preston, R., 116
primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). See brain-eating amoeba
prion diseases, 81
probabilities, 359
processed meat, 80–81
produce. See genetically modified organisms (GMOs); organic produce
protein, 17–18
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, 303
PTFE. See Teflon
public swimming pools, 303–7
public transportation, 297–302
rabies, 242, 248, 260
radio waves, 164–65
Ramankutty, N., 47
recalls, 337, 340–43
research, 355–60, 361–63
restrooms. See public restrooms
rides. See amusement park rides
ringworm, 260–61
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), 277–78
Roentgen, W., 147
rotenone, 46
saccharin, 24
safety. See food safety; GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
Salmonella bacteria, 86–87, 242
salt, 56–60
scanners. See airport body scanners; medical imaging
science, 2–3
See also research
Science, 40
Scientific American, 218
scientific papers, 356–58, 361–63
Scotchgard, 68
selective breeding. See genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Seufert, V., 47
shark attacks, 264–68
smartphones. See mobile phones
Smith, T., 247
snakes, 235–39
Snowden, J., 112
social consciousness. See fair trade
soda. See soft drinks
sodium benzoate, 23
soft drinks, 13, 23
southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), 277
Spaceguard Project, 346
spiders, 271–75
SSIs. See surgical site infections (SSIs)
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, 86, 153, 294, 297–98
STARI. See southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI)
Streptococcus bacteria, 153, 294
stroke, 12
subways, 297–98
sugar, 61–65
supplements. See dietary supplements
surgical site infections (SSIs), 158–59
sweeteners. See artificial sweeteners; sugar
swimming pools. See public swimming pools
synthetic caffeine, 13
synthetic dyes, 23
synthetic fertilizers, 45-46
synthetic hormones. See oral contraception
synthetic pesticides, 46
tea, 12
Teflon, 66–71
This American Life, 135
ticks, 276–80
TMS. See toxic mold syndrome (TMS)
toilets. See public restrooms
tooth decay. See cavities
toxic mold syndrome (TMS), 170–71
Toxoplasma gondii parasites, 241–42
toys made in China, 336–43
transportation. See public transportation
tuberculosis, 298-99
Tylenol. See acetaminophen
ultrasounds, 150
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
chemicals, 186, 199, 207, 212, 229
do-it-yourself research, 357
environment, 165, 170–71
food, 53, 86
medicine, 112, 124
ticks, 276–77
travel, 303–04, 318–19
U.S. Congress, 46, 86
See also specific legislation
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
chemicals, 194, 214
environment, 179
toys made in China, 337
travel, 323-24
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 46, 48, 86–87, 227
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 309–10
U.S. Department of Labor, 336
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
bear sprays, 247
chemicals, 200, 202, 228-29
environment, 179
food safety, 87
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
chemicals, 219, 220, 224
environment, 165, 175–77
food, 18–19, 22–25, 53, 86–88
medicine, 135
travel, 309
U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM), 57–58, 128
U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 40-41, 201–2
U.S. National Park Service, 246
U.S. Public Health Service, 203
vaccines, 188
ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), 159
Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), 318–19
viruses, 116–21, 282–83, 317–18, 319
vitamins. See dietary supplements
weight loss, 24
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, 73
West Nile virus, 282–83
women. See pregnant and nursing women
World Health Organization (WHO)
do-it-yourself research, 357
environment, 165, 180
food, 40, 80
snakes, 236
worry, practices to minimize, 354
worry index, 4–7, 350–52
X-rays, 147–48
Yellowstone National Park, 246–47
Zika virus, 283