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COMMUNICATION ISSUES
Introducing
NAMPA’s
“How To…” Series
We need metal
packaging stakeholders to become more engaged in the media and the public
discourse on bisphenol A (BPA) and its use in epoxy resins in metal
packaging. In an effort to enable
interested parties to join these discussions, we have started a new series
of “How To” articles in the newsletter. The article below, “How to Write a
Letter to the Editor,” is intended to guide efforts to respond to
inaccurate or incomplete articles in local papers. Other similar articles will follow in
future issues of NAMPA News providing practical advice on how to schedule a
meeting with a legislator, how to write a letter to Congress, and other
topics of interest as offered by our members.
How to Write a Letter
to the Editor
Letters
to the editor are an excellent way to become more engaged, as it is one of
the most notable forms available to correct the record, challenge asserted
facts, and obtain free and effective publicity. Not to mention, these
letters are published in the most respected sections of any newspaper, the
editorial section. Writing a
thoughtful letter to the editor can influence previously held perceptions
of readers, generate expanded coverage of an issue, and impact public policy
and legislation.
Tips to get your letter to the editor published:
- First and
foremost, be prompt! In responding to an article, make sure you
respond within two to three days to ensure timeliness. As a general rule, same day
responses have the greatest chance of being printed.
- Be sure to include
your name, physical address, e-mail address, and telephone number at
the top of your letter. Editors often require this information to
verify your identity.
- Limit your letter
to two or three paragraphs, max (150-200 words). Try using this concise format:
o
First paragraph -- State your main point and explain why the issue is important to
you. What impact does the issue have
on the local community? Are you personally invested in the particular
policy or piece of legislation?
o
Second paragraph -- Include facts, quotes, and numbers to support
your point.
o
Conclusion -- End with a great summary, recommendation, and a clever, punchy
line.
- It is very
important to state exactly which article you are responding to in the beginning
of your letter, including the date of its publication.
- If you have
credentials, mention them. If
you have earned a degree or done research in a relevant field, you
will be perceived as more credible than someone who has not.
- Using facts, figures,
and expert testimony helps bolster your case.
- Do not appear
overly emotional. You can avoid
this by limiting your use of exclamation points and always refraining
from using insulting language or disparaging individuals or
institutions.
- Proofread! Proofread!
Proofread! In addition to
correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, make sure your arguments
would make sense to someone without a special background on the issue.
- Make sure you
read the instructions on how to submit your letter to the editor
specific to the publication you are targeting. Most publications
accept e-mail submissions, but prefer the e-mail to be the text of the
letter. Attachments will often
get your e-mail deleted by the spam filter. Some publications have an online
form they require to use instead of e-mail, so check the website of
the publication and follow the instructions, which are usually found
in the Opinion tab of the website.
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Putting ppb into Perspective
When it comes to talking about potential exposure levels of BPA in
metal packaging, the term “parts per billion” (or ppb) is one
that is used most often as the key measurement. Simply put, one part per billion is one
drop out of a billion drops. While
this explanation may seem simple enough for those with some scientific
training, the “parts per billion” measurement can be very
confusing to customers, consumers, and other stakeholders who struggle to
make sense of ppb and understand what the term really means for them. It can also be exceedingly difficult for
industry representatives to explain in a way that is easily understood and
meaningful to those outside the scientific arena.
In
the interest of helping NAMPA
members and others put this term into proper perspective and to enable them
to communicate more effectively with people about potential BPA exposure,
we have compiled a list of examples.
Included on this list are several ways to think about “parts per
billion” using more common comparisons that provide some perspective
on just how miniscule potential levels of exposure are from metal packaging
made with BPA epoxy resin liners.
So
what does parts per billion really mean?
One part per billion is the equivalent of:
- A single raindrop
in 250 oil drums filled with water;
- A single step in
a billion steps around the world (equaling 7.5 circles around the
globe);
- One single penny
of a lottery winner’s $10 million dollar prize;
- One second of
time in 31.7 years;
- A pinch of salt
in ten tons of potato chips;
- One
drop of ink in one of the largest tanker trucks used to haul gasoline;
and
- One sheet in a
roll of toilet paper stretching from New York
to London.
So
the next time you are asked to explain what parts per billion means for the
average person, consider using one of the examples above to offer some
perspective and clarity on this important aspect of the debate over BPA.
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Questions and Answers
about Parts Per Billion from the Scientific Perspective
Q: Which is
larger, one part per million (ppm) or one part-per-billion (ppb)?
A: One part
per million is a larger quantity than a part-per-billion. It is important to remember that the
larger the base amount (i.e.,
billion, trillion), the smaller a single part is, since it represents a
fraction of a larger whole. Just as
1/4 is larger than 1/16, one ppm is greater than one ppb.
Q: How does
this relate to the other measurements I see associated with exposure to BPA
in metal packaging, such as mg/kg or μg/kg or ng/kg?
A: There is
a difference in how measurements are applied to liquids versus solids. One part per million of a solid substance
is equivalent to 1 milligram/kilogram (mg/kg); one part per billion is
equivalent to 1 microgram/kilogram (μg/kg). A nanogram per kilogram (ng/kg) is an
even smaller notation and relates to one part per trillion.
Understanding key measurement
terms:
- ppm: Parts per million. Also
mg/L or milligrams per liter
- ppb: Parts per billion. Also μg/L or micrograms per
liter.
- ppt: Parts per
trillion. Also ng/L or
nanograms per liter.
- mg/kg: A milligram is one
thousandth of a gram.
- μg/kg: A
microgram is one millionth of a gram.
- ng/kg: A nanogram is one
billionth of a gram.
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Navigating the NAMPA
Website
One of NAMPA’s
key objectives is to provide stakeholders with needed information regarding
metal packaging technologies. As
part of that effort, NAMPA
maintains a website with important updates on regulatory decisions,
informational materials and other relevant information at www.metal-pack.org. On our home page, we highlight recent
news items, such as Germany’s
October 2009 conclusion that BPA use in baby bottles is safe. We also provide links to articles, press
releases, or government agency sites.
Beyond the current events highlights, the website also provides NAMPA newsletter
readers with access to past issues of NAMPA News. We have developed a library of
communication materials that NAMPA News readers are encouraged to use with
their customers or other stakeholders.
The “Library” page includes an overview of government
agency findings on BPA, a summary of the benefits afforded by metal
packaging materials, an explanation of various types of scientific
research, and more. NAMPA continues to
develop new materials for this site.
If you have
not already bookmarked www.metal-pack.org
as a favorite, you should do so. And
you should plan to visit the site on a regular basis as we update it with
information often.
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