Unscientific BS-Science

The 'Science' of presenting facts creatively for profit

You may have heard the expression ‘Tobacco-science’ before?

Up to the early 1990’s, tobacco companies were paying scientific research organisations to undertake tests to ‘prove’ that smoking was not harmful. These were reputable organisations such as the South African Standards Authority (SABS), and reputable tests such as determining just how minuscule the amount of tar in each cigarette really was.

Thus real, trustworthy and reliable science conducted by highly respectable scientists.

Until the marketing people got hold of it…..And then smoking became ESSENTIAL for GOOD HEALTH!

Slowly but surely the public has come to realise that there are many instances where similar eye-blinding has taken place. As a result, this kind of BS-Science has come to be known as ‘Tobacco-science’.

Definition

The urban dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tobacco%20science) defines tobacco-science as “"Science" done on behalf of an interest (organisation) which is defending it's cash cow from overwhelming credible science that shows it is harmful or detrimental to public benefit in some way.”

An example quoted by the urban dictionary is “Science conducted on behalf of the plastic manufacturing industry showing that BPA is a safe chemical for human consumption, when a wealth of credible independent scientific research shows otherwise”

Examples

Are there other examples of ‘tobacco-science’ around?

Much of the so-called ‘science’ surrounding the safety and efficacy of various medical interventions gives cause for great concern that it is nothing more than tobacco-science. For example:

•           Fluoridation of drinking water: fluoride is an extremely toxic substance and the specific chemical used for this purpose is a hazardous waste product of the fertiliser industry.
•      Dental amalgam: contains mercury and is classified as a hazardous, toxic substance the instant it is removed from your mouth. But putting it in is 100% safe?! REALLY?
•      Vaccines: many of which contain still contain mercury and/or aluminium compounds. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, manufacturers still claim NO HARMFUL effects!
•      Cholesterol levels which for decades have been falsely blamed for risk of heart and vascular disease and been the mainstay for marketing trillions of dollars’ worth of  statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs   

For more hair-raising information on tobacco-science and it’s implications for human health, this post makes one of many intriguing reads:

http://www.activistpost.com/2013/11/the-realities-of-tobacco-science-in.html