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Upholding science in health, safety and environmental risk assessments and regulations.

Authors :
Aschner, Michael
Autrup, Herman N.
Berry, Sir Colin L.
Boobis, Alan R.
Cohen, Samuel M.
Creppy, Edmond E.
Dekant, Wolfgang
Doull, John
Galli, Corrado L.
Goodman, Jay I.
Gori, Gio B.
Greim, Helmut A.
Joudrier, Philippe
Kaminski, Norbert E.
Klaassen, Curtis D.
Klaunig, James E.
Lotti, Marcello
Marquardt, Hans W.J.
Pelkonen, Olavi
Sipes, I. Glenn
Source :
Toxicology. Sep2016, Vol. 371, p12-16. 5p.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

A public appeal has been advanced by a large group of scientists, concerned that science has been misused in attempting to quantify and regulate unmeasurable hazards and risks. 1 1 An Appeal for the Integrity of Science and Public Policy. Toxicology, September 4, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2016.08.015 . The appeal recalls that science is unable to evaluate hazards that cannot be measured, and that science in such cases should not be invoked to justify risk assessments in health, safety and environmental regulations. The appeal also notes that most national and international statutes delineating the discretion of regulators are ambiguous about what rules of evidence ought to apply. Those statutes should be revised to ensure that the evidence for regulatory action is grounded on the standards of the scientific method, whenever feasible. When independent scientific evidence is not possible, policies and regulations should be informed by publicly debated trade-offs between socially desirable uses and social perceptions of affordable precaution. This article explores the premises, implications and actions supporting the appeal and its objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0300483X
Volume :
371
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Toxicology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
119777011
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2016.09.005