Chairman’s Summary

Abstract

The risks considered in this final session bear some resemblance to those associated with nuclear radiations and toxic wastes, discussed earlier in the meeting. Like those other risks, they arise from unintended side effects of large scale human endeavors toward desirable ends. But their estimation involves also several layers of uncertainty concerning both scientific facts and future human actions. These uncertainties raise additional problems about the meaning and evaluation of “actual” risks in relation to those “perceived.”