THE NATURE AND USE OF ECOTOXICOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

The Nature and Use of Ecotoxicological Evidence: Natural Science, Statistics, Psychology, and Sociology examine how toxicologists and environmental professionals come to understand and make decisions about possible harm from pollutants. Drawing on concepts and techniques from the natural, social and mathematical sciences, the book emphasizes how pollutant-related evidence is gathered, assessed, communicated, and applied in decision-making. Each chapter begins with a real-world example before exploring fundamental cognitive, social, statistical, or natural science concepts to explain the opening example. Methods from other disciplines for recognizing, reducing, or removing the influence of impediments in wise decision-making are highlighted in each chapter. Misreading evidence by the scientific community, and miscommunication to regulators and the public, remain major impediments to wise action in pollution issues. Which evidence comes to dominate the dialogue among scientists, regulat