The Role of Evidence in Risk Characterization: Making Sense of Conflicting Data

by Editor: Peter M. Wiedemann; Editor: Holger Schü; tz

• ISBN13: 9783527320486
• ISBN10: 3527320482
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-07-01
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH

Summary

This book is one of the few that focus on the critical problem of the appropriate characterization of conflicting data for an adequate risk evaluation. It comprehensively coves the different approaches in various research areas in the US and in Europe, while also considering the psychological and ethical implications of risk evaluation. Special attention is paid to the controversially debated issue of potential health risks through electromagnetic fields.From the contents: From Scientific Analysis to Risk Policy Making Sense of Conflicting Data: Evidence Characterization in Different Research Areas Making Sense of Conflicting Data: Procedures for Characterizing Evidence Psychological and Ethical Aspects in Dealing with Conflicting Data and Uncertainty Practical ImplicationsWritten by leading experts in the field, this is an indispensable resource for policy makers and professionals in health risk assessment.

Author Biography

Dr. Wiedemann is the Director of the Programme Group MUT at the Research Centre J++lich. He has extensive work-experience in the field of societal conflicts over modern technologies with a focus on risk communication and evidence characterization. A field of special interest is the potential risk of electromagnetic fields. Dr. Wiedemann was elected President (in 2002 and 2003) of the Society for Risk Analysis - Europe (SRA-E). He was called to serve in different sub-committees of the German Radiation Protection Commission and served as a member of the EMF Communication Group at the WHO EMF Project (1998-2000).

Holger Sch++tz is a senior scientist at the Programme Group MUT. His research focus is on risk perception and risk communication, comparative assessment of environmental health risks, and evidence assessment. He is the first author of the book "Comparative Risk Assessment" published by Wiley-VCH in 2006.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
From Scientific Analysis to Risk Policy
Risk Assessment and Risk Communication for Electromagnetic Fields: A World Health Organization Perspective	p. 13
Characterizing Evidence and Policy Making	p. 25
Making Sense of Conflicting Data: Evidence Characterization in Different Research Areas	p. 35
Basic Principles and Evidence Characterization of the Data from Genetox Investigations	p. 37
Animal Studies	p. 55
Epidemiology	p. 67
Principles and Practice of Evidence Characterization in Environmental Clinical Case Studies	p. 81
Making Sense of Conflicting Data: Procedures for Characterizing Evidence	p. 91
Characterizing Evidence with Evidence-based Medicine	p. 93
The IARC Monographs' Approach to Characterizing Evidence	p. 101
The Swiss Health Risk Approach	p. 111
Procedures for Characterizing Evidence: German Commission on Radiation Protection	p. 121
Lessons from the California Electromagnetic Field Risk Assessment of 2002	p. 131
Evidence Maps - A Tool for Summarizing and Communicating Evidence in Risk Assessment	p. 151
Psychological and Ethical Aspects in Dealing With Conflicting Data and Uncertainty	p. 161
Perception of Uncertainty and Communication about unclear Risks	p. 163
Ethical Guidance for Dealing with Unclear Risk	p. 185
Practical Implications	p. 203
Lessons Learned: Recommendations for Communicating Conflicting Evidence for Risk Characterization	p. 205
Index	p. 215
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