New York Times, July 13, 2004. A Conversation with Robert L. Brent: Calming Parents' Fears About Environmental Hazards. Interview with a Thomas Jefferson Medical College professor who has been studying environmental toxicology for nearly half a century, specializing in the effects of environmental factors like radiation, drugs and chemicals on the developing embryo and child. "There is a lot of misinformation out there scaring parents, " says Dr. Brent. In Q&A format, he discusses what is known and what is not about environmental hazards, what is needed to clarify the potential harm of environmental exposures and how parents can best protect children from potential harm. (Full text available online for fee.)

Washington Post, Feb. 3, 2004. Get a Load of the Mono-2-Ethylhexyl-Phthalate In That Guy. Health section article by Christopher Wanjek explores the advances in biomonitoring technology that allow detection of trace amounts of chemicals and metals in people's blood, urine and breast milk. Wanjek discusses the food chain and other sources of exposure, government studies, and trends toward more localized testing in California and elsewhere, as well as costs and privacy issues surrounding research. "The information doesn't imply that our bodies are in a toxic state of emergency … The trick is to learn more about what's in people's bodies without terrifying them." (Full text available online for fee.)