1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910782724603321

Autore

Harrison Kathryn <1958->

Titolo

Risk, science, and politics : regulating toxic substances in Canada and the United States / / Kathryn Harrison and George Hoberg

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Montreal [Que.], : McGill-Queen's University Press, ©1994

ISBN

1-282-85718-5

9786612857188

0-7735-6505-1

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xiii, 235 pages)

Altri autori (Persone)

HobergGeorge <1958->

Disciplina

363.7/00971

Soggetti

Environmental policy - Canada

Environmental policy - United States

Hazardous substances - Law and legislation - Canada

Hazardous substances - Law and legislation - United States

UNSPECIFIED

Health Policy

Hazardous Substances

Public Policy

Environmental Pollutants

Toxic Actions

Social Control Policies

Chemical Actions and Uses

Social Control, Formal

Policy

Health Care Economics and Organizations

Social Sciences

Drug Therapy

Sociology

Health Care

Law, General & Comparative

Law, Politics & Government

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph



Nota di contenuto

Front Matter -- Contents -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- Policy Making amid Scientific Uncertainty -- Cancer Risk Assessment: Concepts and Controversies -- Between Science and Politics: Assessing the Risks of Dioxins -- Forbidden Fruit: Regulating the Pesticides Alachlor and Alar -- Paternalism vs Consumer Choice:Regulation of Saccharin in Canada and the United States* -- Political Insulation: The Rise and Fall of Urea-Formaldehyde Foam* -- Acceptable Risks? Regulating Asbestos in Canada and the U.S.* -- The Perils of Paternalism: Controlling Radon Exposure in Canadian and U.S. Homes -- Conclusion: Risk, Science, and Public Policy -- Notes -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

Paying particular attention to how politicians and bureaucrats in the two countries deal with the scientific uncertainty that pervades environmental decision making, Harrison and Hoberg analyse case studies of seven controversial substances suspected of causing cancer in humans: the pesticides Alar and alachlor, urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, radon gas, dioxin, saccharin, and asbestos. They weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each country's approach according to five criteria: stringency and timeliness of the regulatory decision, balancing of risks and benefits by decision makers, opportunities for public participation, and the interpretation of science in regulatory decision making. The Canadian approach is exemplified by closed decision making, case-by-case review that relies heavily on expert judgement, and limited public debate about the scientific basis of regulatory decisions. In contrast, regulatory science in the United States is characterized by publication of lengthy rationales for regulatory decisions, reliance on standardized procedures for risk assessment, and controversy surrounding the interpretation of scientific evidence.