It is commonly perceived that natural chemicals are safe while manmade substances may be harmful. These perceptions, however, if not supported by scientific evidence, can result in risk perception gaps that can cause us to worry more than warranted by the evidence. A current example of a risk perception gap is the common belief that naturally occurring chemicals known as isoflavones, which are present at significant levels in some foods, are safe or even beneficial to health. In contrast, the manmade chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which may be present at lower levels in some foods, is commonly believed to be harmful. Read more.
