Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Are Regulations Needed to Hold Experts Accountable for Contributing “Biased” Briefs of Reports that Affect Public Policies

  • Chapter
Risk Analysis in the Private Sector

Part of the book series: Advances in Risk Analysis ((AEMB,volume 220))

Abstract

Direct testimony, briefs, and committee work of scientists and scholars influence public policy in numerous crucial issues. Unfortunately, scientific testimony is frequently biased, either as a result of the omission of relevant information, or by denying the reality of unwanted observations. Three examples of biased evidence are discussed: a series of submissions to the FDA and the EPA by industrial scientists; a report by the NAS on indoor air pollution; and the treatment of occupational carcinogenesis in the Surgeon General’s Reports on Smoking and Health. Presently, there are no recognized standards or restraints to hold experts accountable for performance. Methods are needed to ensure accountability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Archer, V.E., Wagoner, J.K., Lundin, F.E. “Uranium Mining and Cigarette Smoking Effects on Man ” Journal of Occupational Medicine150 (3): 204–211, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Armstrong, B.K., McNulty, J.C., Levitt, L.J., Williams, K.A., Hobbs, M.S.T. “Mortality in Gold and Coal Miners in Western Australia with Special Reference to Lung Cancer ” British Journal of Industrial Medicine36: 199–205. 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ashford, N.A., Analyzing the Benefits of Health, Safety, and Environmental RegulationsCambridge Center for Policy Alternatives, M.I.T, CPA-82-16, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ashford, N.A., Davies, J.C., Dowd, R,M., Russell, C.S., Josie, T.F., “Examining the Role of Science in the Regulatory Process” Environment25 June, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Axelson, O., Josefson, H., Rehn, M., Sundell, L. “Svensk Pilotstudie Over Lungcancer Hos Gruvarbetare” (Swedish Pilot Study Concerning Lung Cancer Among Miners) Lakartidningen68 (49): 5687–5693. 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Axelson, O., Sundell, L. “Mining, Lung Cancer and Smoking ” Scandinavian Journal of the Work Environment and Health4: 46–52. 1978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Berry, G., Newhouse, M.L., Turok, M. “Combined Effect of Asbestos Exposure and Smoking on Mortality from Lung Cancer in Factory Workers” The Lancet: 476–479, September 2, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Blot, W.J., Harrington, J.M., Toledo, A., Hoover, R., Heath, C.W., Fraumeni, J.F. “Lung Cancer After Employment in Shipyards During World War II ” The New England Journal of Medicine299 (12): 620–624. 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Blot, W.J., Morris, L.E., Stroube, R., Tagnon, I., Fraumeni, J.F. “Lung and Laryngeal Cancers in Relation to Shipyard Employment in Coastal Virginia ” Journal of the National Cancer Institute65 (3): 571–575. 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brett, G. Z., Benjamin, B. “Smoking Habits of Men Employed in Industry, and Mortality” British Medical Journal3: 82–85. 1968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Breslow, L. Hoaglin, L., Rasmussen, G.., Abrams, H.K. “Occupations and Cigarette Smoking as Factors in Lung Cancer ” American Journal of Public Health 44: 171–181. 1954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Broad, W.J., “Researcher Denied Future U.S. Funds” Science216: 1081. 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Con Edison Co. Inhouse Study on the Relationship of Gas Heating r and Degree Days Con Edison Co., New York, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dahlgren, E. “Lungcancer, Hjartkarlssjukdom Och Rokning Hos En Grupp Gruvarbetare” (Lungcancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Smoking in a Group of Mineworkers) Lakartidningen76 (52): 4811–4813. 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Elmes, P.C., Simpson, M.J.C. “Insulation Workers in Belfast. 3. Mortality 1940–66 ” British Journal of Industrial Medicine28: 226–236. 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Emerson, J.L., Thompson, D.J,, Gerbig, C.G., Robinson, V.B. “Results of Teratogenic Studies of 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid in the Rat” Report from the Human Health Research and Development Laboratories, the Dow Chemical Company, Zionsville, Indiana, March 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Epstein, S.S. The Politics of CancerAnchor Press/Doubleday, New York, New York. 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hammond, E.C., Selikoff, I.J. “Relation of Cigarette Smoking to Risk of Death of Asbestos-Associated Disease Among Insulation Workers in the United States” Biological Effects of Asbestos, Bogovski, P., etal, Editors, I.A.R.C. Scientific Publications #8, Lyon, France. pp. 312–317. 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jasanoff, S., Nelkin, D. “Science, Technology, and the Limits of Judicial Competence ” Science214: 1211. 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kantrowitz, A., “Controlling Technology Democratically” American Scientist 63:505.:1975.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kolonel, L.N. “Association of Cadmium with Renal Cancer” Cancer37 (4): 1782–1787, 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kreyberg, L. “Lung Cancer in Workers in a Nickel Refinery” British Journal of Industrial Medicine35 (2): 109–116. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kuratsune, M., Tokudome, S., Shirakusa, T., Yoshida, M., Tokumitsu, Y. Hayano, T., Seita, M. “Occupational Lung Cancer Among Copper Smelters” International Journal of Cancer13: 552–558. 1974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Levin, M.L., Kraus, A.S., Goldberg, I.D., Gerhardt, P.R. “Problems in the Study of Occupation and Smoking in Relation to Lung Cancer ” Cancer8: 932–936. 1955.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lundin, F.E., Lloyd, J.W., Smith, E.M., Archer, V.E., Holaday, D.A. “Mortality of Uranium Miners in Relation to Radiation Exposure, Hard-Rock Mining and Cigarette Smoking--1950 through September 1967 ” Health Physics 16: 571–578. 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Martishnig, K.M, Newell, D.J., Barnsley, W.C., Cowan, W.K., Feinmann, E.L., Oliver, E. “Unsuspected Exposure to Asbestos and Bronchogenic Carcinoma” British Medical Journal 1: 746–749. 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. McDonald, J.C., Liddell, F.D.K., Gibbs, G.W., Eyssen, G.E., McDonald, A.D. “Dust Exposure and Mortality in Chrysotile Mining, 1910–75 ” British Journal of Industrial Medicine37 (1): 11–24. 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Meurman, L.O., Kiviluoto, R., Hakama, M. “Combined Effect of Asbestos Exposure and Tobacco Smoking on Finnish Anthophyllite Miners and Millers” f 2> Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 330: 491–495. 1979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Miller, C.T., Neutel, C.I., Nair, R.C., Marrett, L.D., Last, J,M., Collins, W.E. “Relative Importance of Risk Factors in - Bladder Carcinogenesis ” Journal of Chronic Diseases31: 51–56 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Morgan, R. W., Shettigara, P.T. “Occupational Asbestos Exposure, Smoking, and Laryngeal Carcinoma ” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences271: 308–310. 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. National Academy of Sciences. Indoor Air Pollution, Report of the N.A.S. /N. R. C Committee on Air Pollution, National Academy of Sciences. 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Newhouse, M L., Berry, G. “Patterns of Mortality in Asbestos Factory Workers in London” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 330: 53–60. 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Osburn, H S. “Lung Cancer in a Mining District in Rhodesia” South African Medical Journal 43:1307–1312. 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Pinto, S.S., Henderson, V.., Enterline, P.E. “Mortality Experience of Arsenic-Exposed Workers ” Archives of Environmental Health 331. 325–331. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Reed, D., Lessard, R., Maheux, B. “Lung Cancer on a Nickel Smelting Island” (Meeting Abstract) American Journal of Epidemiology 108 (3): 233. 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Rutstein, D.D., Mullan, M.D., Frazier, T.M., Halperin, W.E. “Sentinel Health Events (Occupational): A Basis for Physician Recognition and Public Health Surveillance ” American Journal of Public Health 73:1054–1062. 1983

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Selikoff, I.J., Hammond, E.C. Chung, J. “Asbestos Exposure, Smoking, and Neoplasia ” Journal of the American Medical Association 204 (2): 104–110: 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Selikoff, I.J., Seidman, H., Hammond, E.C. “Mortality Effects of Cigarette Smoking Among Amosite Asbestos Factory Workers ” Journal of the National Cancer Institute 65 (3): 507–513. 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Shettigara, P.T., Morgan, R.W. “Asbestos, Smoking, and Laryngeal Carcinoma ” Archives of Environmental Health 30: 517–519. 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Stell, P.M., McGill, T. “Asbestos and Laryngeal Carcinoma” Lancet 2: 416–417. 1973.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Stell, P.M., McGill, T. “Exposure to Asbestos and Laryngeal Carcinoma” Journal of Larynogology and Otology 89 (2): 513–517. 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sterling, T.D. “Does Smoking Kill Workers or Working Kill Smokers?” International Journal of Health Services 8: 437–452. 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Sterling, T.D. “Statistical Problems in Multi-Variate (Etiological) Surveys” Canadian Journal of Statistics7: 205–215. 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Sterling, T.D., Sterling, E “CO Levels in Kitchens and Homes with Gas Cookers.” Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association 29: 238–244. 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Sterling, T.D., Kobayashi, D. “Use of Gas Ranges for Cooking and Heating in Urban Dwellings.” Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association 31: 162–165. 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Sundell, L. “Lung Cancer in Miners in Relation to Smoking Habits” European Journal of Respiratory Diseases 61 (Suppl. 107): 131–132. 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  47. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service. Smoking and Health A Report of the Surgeon General. DHEW Publication No. (PHS) 79–50066. 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  48. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, The Health Consequences of Smoking: Cancer A Report of the Surgeon General United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Office of Smoking and Health, Rockville, Maryland, DHEW Publication No. (PHS) 82–50179. 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Weiss, W. “Chloromethyl Ethers, Cigarettes, Cough and Cancer ” Journal of Occupational Medicine 18 (3): 194–199. 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Weiss, W. “The Cigarette Factor in Lung Cancer Due to Chloromethyl Ethers” Journal of Occupational Medicine22 (8): 527–529. 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Wolff, G., Lauter, J. “Zur Epidemiologie des Magenkrebses” Archiv fur Geschwulstforschung 46 (1): 1–14. 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Wynder, E.L., Covey, L.S., Mabuchi, K., Mushinski, M. “Environmental Factors in Cancer of the Larynx, a Second Look” Cancer 38 (4): 1591–1601. 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Wynder, E.L., Goldsmith, R. “The Epidemiology of Bladder Cancer, a Second Look” Cancer40: 1246–1268. 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, B.C., Canada

    Theodor D. Sterling & Anthony Arundel

Authors
  1. Theodor D. Sterling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anthony Arundel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California, USA

    Chris Whipple

  2. U.S. National Science Foundation, Washington, DC, USA

    Vincent T. Covello

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sterling, T.D., Arundel, A. (1985). Are Regulations Needed to Hold Experts Accountable for Contributing “Biased” Briefs of Reports that Affect Public Policies. In: Whipple, C., Covello, V.T. (eds) Risk Analysis in the Private Sector. Advances in Risk Analysis, vol 220. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2465-2_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2465-2_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9496-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2465-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation