[ RadSafe ] Cell phones, nuclear power, global warming, etc

[Douglas Minnema]

Mark,
 
I have not read this book yet, will add it to my list.  In return, I'll add one to your list:  "Doubt is Their Product: How industry's Assault on Science Threatens Your Health," by David Michaels, Oxford University Press.
 
For those DOE'ers out there, David Michaels used to be the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Health at DOE during the later years of the Clinton Administration.  He is most recognized for having pushed through the DOE workers' occupational illness compensation program.
 
Fascinating book, and apparently very well documented.  It describes how regulated industries, and industries in fear of future regulation, have created methodologies for defending their products against those who would regulate them.  Many of those methods would, on the surface, appear to be logical approaches to evaluating health risks based on sound scientific principles.  But the question becomes one of "what are the motives behind the scientific results" rather than "what are the merits of the scientific results."
 
Unfortunately, the book puts me in a quandary - now that Michaels has detailed all of the 'tricks' used to slant scientific results in various directions, I can see elements of these 'tricks' being used on both sides of the street, so to speak.  It makes me pause and ask myself, "how would I know who to believe."
 
Doug Minnema, PhD, CHP
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

>>> "Miller, Mark L" <mmiller at sandia.gov> 1/6/2010 12:24 PM >>>
I recommend "Denialism:  How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet and Threatens Our Lives" by Michael Specter, The Penguin Press.  

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