Table of Contents
FDA Consumer magazine
May-June 1999

Getting information on hundreds of consumer health topics can be as easy as picking up the phone. But what numbers do you call? The National Library of Medicine has the answers at www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/hotlines/. A variety of health organizations sponsor the toll-free numbers listed on this site, which provide information on AIDS, cancer, maternal and child health, aging, substance abuse, disabilities, and mental health. The site also has information on services available in Spanish.

How does the government regulate pesticides? What are pesticide residue limits for foods? Why may children be especially sensitive to pesticides, and how can consumers reduce their exposure? The Environmental Protection Agency can tell you at www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/. Here you can learn what "integrated pest management" and "organically grown" mean. You can review the types of pesticides used in this country and health problems they may pose, and pick up tips for food buying and preparation that will help minimize pesticide exposure.

It's easy for consumers to find and buy dietary supplements. But where can they find out the facts about those supplements? The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements has a database at odp.od.nih.gov/ods/databases/ibids.html filled with those facts. Designed for people with all levels of Web expertise and scientific knowledge, the site searches existing medical, botanical, agricultural, chemical, and pharmaceutical databases. It also offers links to other government, scientific and professional sites related to dietary supplements.

Calling it "one reliable place to go for information that can be trusted," Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., launched the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) last November. The new service, managed by the U.S. Public Health Service, combines a Website (www.4woman.gov) and a toll-free number (1-800-994-WOMAN). The Website links to more than 1,000 other women's health Websites, including more than 300 federal sites, hundreds of government-screened private organizations, and more than 2,700 federal documents on women's health. Included are frequently asked questions on dozens of top health issues of concern to women, such as breast cancer, endometriosis, hysterectomy, and pregnancy.

Questions concerning the editorial content of FDA Consumer should be directed to FDA's Office of Public Affairs.

Table of Contents | How to Subscribe | Back Issues | FDA Home Page