Chemincal Paranoia

Basic scientific illiteracy is further compounded by our collective problem with innumeracy. Analytical chemistry has advanced to the point that we can detect parts per trillion but cannot say that these levels are a health risk. And regulators continue to carry out huge recalls for trace amounts of contamination because the standard is zero, while reassuring the public that the food is perfectly safe (remember, one part per trillion is one second in 31,000 years). Most consumers cannot comprehend these tiny amounts so they continue to demand zero risk, even as zero keeps getting smaller. Is it any wonder the poor consumer is confused and suffering from acute chemical paranoia?