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Overview
There is a great deal of controversy about how to deal with man-made chemicals. Environmentalists and industrialists throughout the world clash on such subjects as chlorine, PVC, endocrine disrupters and the precautionary principle. In this book Tukker untangles the controversy. Three chapters relate to long-term evaluations into two hot-spots in the toxicity controversy - the debates on chlorine in the Netherlands and PVC in Sweden. The book adopts a political-philosophical view, presenting a thorough theoretical analysis of the potential of scientific research to solve controversies, and evaluating the history of the chlorine and PVC controversies. The book combines the quantitative analytical approaches of environmental science with qualitative approaches of policy sciences and the philosophy of science (frame analysis, cultural theory, discourse theory, etc.). It is an accessible analysis of the toxicity debate that will enable scientists, policy makers and others to place their roles in a much wider context within the decision-making process.Synopsis
There is a great deal of controversy about how to deal with man-made chemicals. Environmentalists and industrialists throughout the world clash on such subjects as chlorine, PVC, endocrine disrupters and the precautionary principle. In this book Tukker untangles the controversy. Three chapters relate to long-term evaluations into two hot-spots in the toxicity controversy - the debates on chlorine in the Netherlands and PVC in Sweden. The book adopts a political-philosophical view, presenting a thorough theoretical analysis of the potential of scientific research to solve controversies, and evaluating the history of the chlorine and PVC controversies.
The book combines the quantitative analytical approaches of environmental science with qualitative approaches of policy sciences and the philosophy of science (frame analysis, cultural theory, discourse theory, etc.). It is an accessible analysis of the toxicity debate that will enable scientists, policy makers and others to place their roles in a much wider context within the decision-making process.
Booknews
As a consultant with the TNO Institute of Strategy, Technology, and Policy, in Delft, and with a background at the Dutch Ministry of Environment, Tukker prepared major studies for both of the debates he describes. Drawing from the philosophy of science, the environmental sciences, and political science, he investigates how debates surrounding toxicity in the chemical industry can be conducted to produce decisions that are socially robust in the long term, considering both the process and product of decision making. He begins with an introduction to artificial chemicals and toxicity, then explores such aspects as the role of science in controversies, tools for evaluating environmental performance, and environmental bottlenecks and uncertainties. Finally, he details the two debates, and offers his conclusions and reflections and recommendations. The treatment began as a Ph.D. dissertation, but Tukker does not say when or for whom; the minor revisions for publication did not include adding an index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)