Junk Science And Man-Made Tsunamis.(ISSUES & INSIGHTS)(EDITORIALS)(Editorial)

Environmentalism: Viktor Yushchenko's election as prime minister should have a calming effect on Ukrainian politics, just as his very survival should debunk a long-standing myth about chemicals.

It took two elections -- the first so massively fraudulent that a second was required -- for Yushchenko to win the prime minister's seat. To say it was a hard-fought and bitter campaign would be an understatement because Yushchenko almost paid for his candidacy and subsequent win with his life.

Someone in Ukraine takes politics seriously, so seriously that he tried to poison Yushchenko.

Dioxin, which has a reputation as one of most toxic substances known to man and is considered a carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, was the substance of choice. Yushchenko was found to have 6,000 times the normal amount of dioxin in his body, the second highest level recorded in human history. Yet he survived.

"Environmentalists unintentionally saved the Ukranian presidential candidate," says Steven Milloy of junkscience.com, because they had so thoroughly fed the fear about dioxin that whoever tried to poison Yushchenko thought that it was a sure thing.

"Dioxin, in fact, is not terribly toxic to humans," explains Milloy, a fact that Yushchenko bears out every time he gets up in the morning.

Yes, his appearance is marred by chloracne and he might face other health problems later. But having 6,000 times the normal level of anything in the human body, necessary nutrients included, can have harmful effects. Even iron in small excess can damage organs. Too much iron can kill.