Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy
Department of Philosophy and History, KTH Royal University of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Sustainability 2019, 11(17), 4785; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174785
Received: 20 July 2019 / Revised: 26 August 2019 / Accepted: 28 August 2019 / Published: 2 September 2019
Much research shows that science denial regarding climate change is widespread and problematic for science and scientists, as well as for policy-makers. Climate denial delays goal achievement. As shown in this article, science denial commonly occurs also in the field of chemicals assessment and policy, but the research on the topic is scarce. The peer-reviewed studies that exist mostly concern a limited number of specific cases, such as DDT, CFCs and endocrine disrupting chemicals. The characteristics of ‘chemicals denial’ show similarity with those of climate denial, including reliance on fake experts, cherry-picked facts and attacks on scientists, with a key aspect being the questioning of causal relationships. Considering the gaps between chemicals policy goals and the state of the environment, further scientific exploration in the field is needed. Developing a better coordinated research agenda and a common terminology are therefore warranted strategies. A key concept in such endeavors could be ‘chemicals denial’.
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Keywords:
chemicals denial; science denial; doubt; manufacturing uncertainty; chemicals; risk; policy; environmental goals
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MDPI and ACS Style
Karlsson, M. Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4785. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174785
AMA Style
Karlsson M. Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy. Sustainability. 2019; 11(17):4785. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174785
Chicago/Turabian StyleKarlsson, Mikael. 2019. "Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy" Sustainability 11, no. 17: 4785. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174785
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