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Health and environment: Public health decisions based on evidence, psychology and politics
Author(s) -
Bonham G. H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
environmetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-095X
pISSN - 1180-4009
DOI - 10.1002/env.3170060308
Subject(s) - public health , action (physics) , disease , politics , collateral , public economics , psychology , political science , social psychology , positive economics , medicine , economics , pathology , physics , quantum mechanics , law
The concern is with the magnitude of Alzheimer's disease as a social and health problem and with the appropriateness of public action when there is a lack of firm international consensus on the role of aluminium either as a causative agent or as a factor contributing to the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease. From an examination of current and historical events, there is an analysis of the reasons why some technologies and health measures translate easily towards appropriate public action or public policy whereas others trigger little or no response. The concept of congruence of interest is utilized. When there is a lack of international consensus the appropriateness of prudent avoidance and of collateral justification is discussed. Further priorities for research are suggested.