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Identifying environmental health risks in consumer products: non-governmental organizations and civic epistemologies

Chemicals Foundry Consulting, 2 Mutual Road, North Balwyn, Victoria 3104, Australia, iles@nature. berkeley.edu

Chemical politics are increasingly focusing on chemical use in consumer products. Emerging scientific research, including endocrine disrupter studies and body burden surveys, suggests that products are important sources of chemical risks. This article uses the concept of civic epistemology to investigate knowledge production about chemical risks in products. Using the case of phthalates in toys and cosmetics, this article analyzes how environmental health non-governmental organizations are critiquing regulatory science, attempting to change standards of evidence and proof, and introducing data about product use. Briefly comparing developments in the United States and Europe reveals such civic epistemology elements more clearly.

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Public Understanding of Science, Vol. 16, No. 4, 371-391 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0963662505059442


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Iles, A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?