"Shifting Sands: Unsound Science and Unsafe Regulation" examines how irreproducible science affects select areas of government policy and regulation governed by different federal agencies. This first report on "PM[subscript 2.5] Regulation" focuses on irreproducible research in the field of environmental epidemiology, which…

Evaluating the potential health impacts of chemical, physical, and biological environmental factors represents a challenging task with profound medical, public health, and historical implications. The history of public health is replete with instances, ranging from tobacco to lead and asbestos, where the ability to obtain evidence on potential…

This report explores the impacts a university climate change course has on those enrolled in the course. The research quantitatively measures and compares opinions, attitudes, and knowledge among groups, then qualitatively explores the responses of the group to identify course impacts. The results show reasons people enroll in the course, how they…

Damage to the brain or nervous system at an early developmental stage creates lifelong challenges for the individual. To examine one source of harm to the developing nervous system, the Collaborative on Health and the Environment's (CHE) Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI) (Collaborative on Health and the Environment, 2009)…

Environmental and health risks caused by chemical substances have been intensively debated in various arenas of science and policy, and in news media. The impacts of risk debates on the public have been widely studied, while less attention has been paid to expert views. We present results from a cross-national survey charting expert views on the…

Environmental quality is essential for all human activities. The relationship of environmental issues to other societal concerns such as the economy, agricultural productivity, and human health must be considered or human populations will perish. (WB)

An experimental and theoretical investigation into the range and nature of exposure of the nonsmoking public to respirable suspended particulates from cigarette smoke is reported. An assessment of public health policy implications is presented. (Author/RE)

This book is a report designed to be used by scientists in a wide variety of disciplines and by interested laymen. Thus, the readability of the material was maintained without sacrificing scientific accuracy. The document consisted of three parts. Part 1, Air Conservation and Public Policy, was written to be of interest to the broadest possible…

It is suggested that a system of relative standards be formulated which would compare utility of substances to their relative risk as carcinogens. This would define a range of use restrictions. Substances intended for specific uses would then be regulated according to these standards. (Author/RE)

In the previous article, the authors described the 300 million gallon coal waste spill in Martin County, Kentucky and the interviews that they had with thirty-two area residents in the aftermath of the release (Scott, McSpirit, Hardesty, and Welch 2004 --this issue). Many of these interviewees charged MCCC-Massey and federal, state, and local…

This book looks at a sampling of notable socio-technical problems within a rational context. It seeks to determine if problems exist with recent decisions in the application of technology; how threatening any problems may be; the source of problems; and examines alternatives available to the nation. The broad goal of this rational consideration is…

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) increasingly is being used to study and address environmental justice. This article presents the results of a cross-site case study of four CBPR partnerships in the United States that researched environmental health problems and worked to educate legislators and promote relevant public policy. The…

This guide is devoted to development of instructional units dealing with threats to human survival. It addresses both natural and man-made disasters. Chapters include descriptions of specific threats and suggested approaches to dealing with them. Appendices present source information for films, free resource material, physical education material,…

This booklet is intended to accompany lessons dealing with threats to human survival. It addresses both natural and man-made disasters. Chapters present photos and diagrams along with descriptions of specific threats and suggested approaches to dealing with them. Chapters include: (1) Disasters, (2) Survival in the Nuclear Age, (3) Civil…