title: Impediments to basing government health policies on science in the United States.
abstract: In the U.S., there is no consistent relationship between what health scientists find and public policy. Some scientific findings are heralded and quickly incorporated into individual and political action. Other findings are ignored, and others are contradicted by policy. This paper explains this inconsistency in terms of individual reaction to hazards, media coverage of hazards, and different ability of individuals to respond to health information; political leaders' preference for high-technology science, distortion and opposition by commercial interests, bureaucratic maneuvering for power and resources; and uncertainty and asymmetry of some scientific findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urban Studies and Community Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006266:Health Education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012586:Science; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006256:Hazardous Waste