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The abuse of science in public policy
Author(s) -
Havender William R.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1982.tb04931.x
Subject(s) - legislation , saccharin , medical science , political science , environmental health , criminology , medicine , law , psychology , pathology , medical education
The abuses of science by legislation and the unfounded conclusions which are sometimes reached are discussed. Cited are three examples of wrong conclusions reached by various scientists, including the Love Canal study which claimed that medical problems of residents were due to exposure to toxic wastes, a study which stated that lymphoma was caused by nitrites in foods, and an epidemiological study which led to an FDA ban on saccharin‐containing food products. In each of these cases, other studies have proved the original accounts either false or misleading due to the scientific methods used or the lack of pertinent information. To avoid such occurrences in the future, the author suggests that the current laws which direct science need to be changed.