Stupid Drug Story of the Week
The mothball menace.
Addendum, 9:24 p.m.:My chemically minded readers tell me that 1,4-dichlorobenzene and paradichlorobenzene are the same compound, which this EPA Web site confirms. Isn't that rich? The press has devoted tons more coverage and interest on two French girls dosing themselves with the chemical than the potentially ill effects experienced by hundreds of millions exposed to it every day. Chem-head and "Press Box" reader Nathan Okerlund shares this sharp observation with me: "It is very strange that something that makes headlines as an intoxicant is ignored as a pollutant."
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Today, mothballs. Tomorrow, cedar blocks? Send your predictions to slate.pressbox@gmail.com. (E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
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Jack Shafer was Slate's editor at large. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at Shafer.Reuters@gmail.com.