Research Catalog

Title

Is a little pollution good for you? : incorporating societal values in environmental research / Kevin C. Elliott.

Author

Elliott, Kevin Christopher.

Publication

New York : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

x, 246 pages : illustrations; 25 cm.

Summary

"Could low-level exposure to polluting chemicals be analogous to exercise-a beneficial source of stress that strengthens the body? Some scientists studying the phenomenon of hormesis (beneficial or stimulatory effects caused by low-dose exposure to toxic substances) claim that that this may be the case. IS A LITTLE POLLUTION GOOD FOR YOU? critically examines the current evidence for hormesis. In the process, it highlights the range of methodological and interpretive judgments involved in environmental research: choices about what questions to ask and how to study them, decisions about how to categorize and describe new information, judgments about how to interpret and evaluate ambiguous evidence, and questions about how to formulate public policy in response to debated scientific findings. The book also uncovers the ways that interest groups with deep pockets attempt to influence these scientific judgments for their benefit. Several chapters suggest ways to counter these influences and incorporate a broader array of societal values in environmental research: (1) moving beyond conflict-of-interest policies to develop new ways of safeguarding academic research from potential biases; (2) creating deliberative forums in which multiple stakeholders can discuss the judgments involved in policy-relevant research; and (3) developing ethical guidelines that can assist scientific experts in disseminating debated and controversial phenomena to the public. Kevin C. Elliott illustrates these strategies in the hormesis case, as well as in two additional case studies involving contemporary environmental research: endocrine disruption and multiple chemical sensitivity. This book should be of interest to a wide variety of readers, including scientists, philosophers, policy makers, environmental ethicists and activists, research ethicists, industry leaders, and concerned citizens."--Pub. desc.

Series Statement

Environmental ethics and science policy series

Uniform Title

Environmental ethics and science policy.

Subject

• Environmental responsibility
• Environmental ethics
• Pollution > Case studies
• Social values > Case studies
• Pollution
• Social values
• Umweltethik

Genre/Form

Case studies.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-226) and index.

Contents

Introduction : societal values and environmental research -- The Hormesis case -- An argument for societal values in policy-relevant research -- Lesson #1 : safeguarding science -- Lesson #2 : diagnosing deliberation -- Lesson #3 : ethics for experts -- The MCS and ED cases.

Call Number

JFE 11-2471

ISBN

• 9780199755622 (hbk. : alk. paper)
• 0199755620 (hbk. : alk. paper)
• 9780199374069 (paperback)
• 0199374066 (paperback)

LCCN

2010007927

OCLC

562766830

Author

Elliott, Kevin Christopher.

Title

Is a little pollution good for you? : incorporating societal values in environmental research / Kevin C. Elliott.

Imprint

New York : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

Environmental ethics and science policy series

Environmental ethics and science policy.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-226) and index.

Connect to:

Table of contents

Other Form:

Online version: Elliott, Kevin Christopher. Is a little pollution good for you? New York : Oxford University Press, 2010 (OCoLC)694087541

Research Call Number

JFE 11-2471