• What is your question?• Will your subjects answer that question?• Is it a compelling story?• Are your subjects protected?

Finding subjects, educating them, preparing them:

0

1

2

3

4

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

ppb

Norén and Meironyté, 2000

PBDEsSwedish mothers, ’72-’97

Flame retardant breast milk?

You can’t afford to make a mistake.

• Protect yourself and your subjects• Get Institutional Review Board approval

Blood requested by the lab

Blood permitted by IRB

Institutional Review Board impact

• $1,300 fee

• 22 page protocol

• 8 page consent form

• Initially rejected

• $740 follow-up physician visit (for subjects)

• Four month delay

• Scientific standing for project

• Peace of mind for reporter

Your raw data may arrive from the lab looking like this ...

polybrominated diphenyl ethers

Dad Mom 5-yr-old 18-mo-old

700 ppb

U.S.median

50 ppb

harm inlab rats

300 ppb

“I had no idea. Thank you...”Karen Colacicco Union City, Calif.

Photos by Nick Lammers, Oakland Tribune