Apps - security question

[ATLbellygirl]

Hi - I noticed that w/ some of the apps I've been downloading, I've been getting alerts indicating that the app will have "access to:", with different features, including some personal data (not just internet access or "my location"). Is this anything I need to be concerned about? I wasn't thrilled w/ the idea that some of these apps would have access to seemingly unrelated personal data I have on the Droid but noticed that users were giving these apps high marks, so I figured they were safe but wanted to look into this. I can't remember which data the apps had access to that I was concerned about, but I just remember wondering how safe it was. And when it says the app has access to x,y, and z, who are they referring to - the developers?

Thanks!
M