Comments on: In WTF News: Researcher Contemplates Adding Lithium to Water Supply http://rathausartprojects.com/blog/2009/12/17/researcher-contemplate-adding-lithium-to-water-supply/ art and design, culture and communication Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:42:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ANChttp://rathausartprojects.com/blog/2009/12/17/researcher-contemplate-adding-lithium-to-water-supply/comment-page-1/#comment-17511 ANC Thu, 06 May 2010 20:59:09 +0000 http://rathausartprojects.com/blog/?p=6634#comment-17511 I realize this is an old news, but the original research actually said nothing about adding lithium to our water supply. All our water has some amount of lithium. It was an investigative & observational study on the existing lithium levels in certain municipalities in relation to suicide rates, and the researchers conclude the study by saying more studies are required [to even validate the correlation].Clay Risen carefully chose sound bites to make it sound very crazy, but there was a similar study done in Texas in the 90s, which found similar results. A journalist could have asked Dr. Terao, "So what do you think of adding some to the water supply?" and he could have said "potentially, but more studies are needed," (<- The latter part is what he says in the paper) but NY Times conveniently omits the 2nd part... No mention of any future policy-making in the study, either.Let's not dance to the type of journalism which aims for fear and excitement. Just because they're big, doesn't mean they're right. I realize this is an old news, but the original research actually said nothing about adding lithium to our water supply. All our water has some amount of lithium. It was an investigative & observational study on the existing lithium levels in certain municipalities in relation to suicide rates, and the researchers conclude the study by saying more studies are required [to even validate the correlation].

Clay Risen carefully chose sound bites to make it sound very crazy, but there was a similar study done in Texas in the 90s, which found similar results. A journalist could have asked Dr. Terao, “So what do you think of adding some to the water supply?” and he could have said “potentially, but more studies are needed,” (<- The latter part is what he says in the paper) but NY Times conveniently omits the 2nd part… No mention of any future policy-making in the study, either.

Let's not dance to the type of journalism which aims for fear and excitement. Just because they're big, doesn't mean they're right.

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