Davis is in demand around the world for her expertise. She's written two books, "The Secret History of the War on Cancer" and "When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution." She has her own Web site, www.DevraDavis.com, which promotes her charitable foundation for cancer-prevention resources.

In addition to participating in the panel discussion and other events Friday at the university, Davis also spoke Friday evening at the Salt Lake City Public Library.

Davis said thousands of studies support speaking up about the dangers of cell-phone use, especially by children, as well as the health effects of tobacco smoke, idling school buses, aviation fuel, pollution that migrates to the United States from Asia, and many other environmental hazards.

"This is not just a bunch of hand waving," she said.

Davis cautioned the panel's audience, many of them medical workers, not to "terrify" or overwhelm people by throwing too much information at them too quickly. She said the risk is that people will "shut down" and ignore the warnings, including ways parents can help their children fight off the ill effects of environmental toxins.

Moench, Davis and university officials agreed that more information about the cause-and-effect relationship between the environment and health needs to reach members of the medical community and the public.

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