'Zombie Facts' Persist Despite Revisions in Black Plastic and Other Studies

Health·New 'Zombie Facts' Persist After Corrections

Headlines cautioning the disposal of black plastic kitchen utensils continue to circulate, alongside social media warnings of "secret toxins" in households. What remains less highlighted is the correction issued for the peer-reviewed study that initially sparked these alerts.

Study Findings and Errors

In a recent study published by researchers from the U.S. and Netherlands in the journal Chemosphere, brominated fire retardants (BFR) were identified in black plastic household items, including kitchen products sold in the U.S. However, a miscalculation was discovered in the risk assessment, leading to an order of magnitude error. Despite this error, the study's authors emphasized that the overall conclusion of the paper remained unaffected.

"Our study provides evidence that toxic flame retardants, when used in electronics, can migrate to household items where they are not expected," stated Megan Liu, co-author of the study and a member of Seattle's Toxic-Free Future environmental group.

Impact of Errors and Retractions

Errors in scientific studies, whether minor corrections or major retractions, are part of the peer-review process. However, the attention garnered by corrections is often overshadowed by the initial misinformation. Tim Caulfield, a professor at the University of Alberta, notes that corrections tend to receive less traction, allowing the original misinformation to persist as a "zombie fact."

Lessons from Retractions

The repercussions of delayed retractions, as seen in the case of Andrew Wakefield's discredited MMR vaccine study, underscore the importance of swift corrective actions to maintain public trust. Ivan Oransky from Retraction Watch emphasizes the need for humility in acknowledging mistakes, while promoting media literacy and critical thinking to combat the spread of misinformation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while errors and retractions are inevitable in scientific research, transparency, humility, and media literacy play crucial roles in upholding the integrity of scientific findings and countering the proliferation of misinformation.