50 Health Scares That Fizzled
Joan R. Callahan


This engaging, nontechnical book discusses 50 health scares that captured the public's attention before fading away, covering real and perceived health threats from long-ago eras to present times.

Killer bees. The measles vaccine. Three Mile Island. Artificial sweeteners. The swine flu. All of these health risks and news stories took us by surprise, caused great alarm, and created controversy—until they quietly dropped off our collective radar screens and we forgot about them. What were the real stories behind these health scares?

Despite the benefits of advanced technology and modern safety mechanisms, the world around us seems to grow ever more dangerous and fraught with hidden risks. Even in the information age, it is challenging to discern factual, scientific information from sensationalized accounts in the media, "urban legends," or unsubstantiated Internet lore.

In 50 Health Scares That Fizzled, award-winning author and researcher Joan R. Callahan examines 50 health scares in 7 distinct categories: medical interventions, infectious diseases, food scares, additives in foods or beverages, other biological hazards, chemical or radiological exposures, and lifestyle choices. With great wit and a light tone, Dr. Callahan alleviates readers' concerns and deftly explains the complex issues, making the subject matter approachable.