Occupational Disease: Magnitude and Issues of the Problem

Abstract

Even when based on clear information, costly regulatory decisions will be controversial. When the decisions are costly and when the data on which they are based are uncertain—when the data do not come close to suggesting a technically “correct” path—the decisions are even more disputed. This uncertainty gives political and organizational factors considerable room in which to operate. This chapter discusses key issues and uncertainties in toxic-substance control prior to discussing political and organizational factors in Chapter 3.