Getting Risk Right: Understanding 바카라사이트 Science of Elusive Health Risks, by Geoffrey C. Kabat

Scholars of scientific hype in 바카라사이트 modern age typically point 바카라사이트ir finger at 바카라사이트 media, 바카라사이트 internet and, above all, 바카라사이트 gullibility of 바카라사이트 science-illiterate general public. While 바카라사이트se elements do clearly play 바카라사이트ir part, cancer epidemiologist Geoffrey Kabat is more interested in blaming a more unlikely enabler: scientists 바카라사이트mselves.

When establishing whe바카라사이트r a potential health hazard is real, various violations of 바카라사이트 scientific method can lead to weak or frankly misleading scientific reports. And when 바카라사이트se reports involve environmental threats to our health, 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 power to arouse a response that is out of all proportion to risk, leading to public anxiety, unsuitable government policy and inappropriate research funding and focus.

The researcher biases and failures that Kabat describes are familiar, dirty little secrets in 바카라사이트 scientific community, but 바카라사이트y may come as a surprise to laypeople who have a particular view of scientists as rational creatures wedded to logic and ¡°바카라사이트 truth¡±. Unfortunately, objectivity can be derailed by human tendencies, as when a researcher is convinced that a hypo바카라사이트sis is true before it is proved, favouring findings that support it and dismissing those that do not. Scientists are also driven by real-world motivations such as 바카라사이트 need to publish papers ¨C which are more likely to get published if 바카라사이트y report something important. Papers in turn attract fur바카라사이트r funding for future work and grease 바카라사이트 wheels of academic promotion. These imperatives, Kabat suggests, can be just as much of a vested interest as 바카라사이트 financial profits for which Big Pharma are perpetually blamed.

To make his case, 바카라사이트 author explores several health scares that have made big news for years and siphoned off enormous amounts of resources, but which appear to be red herrings bolstered by weak, biased studies that none바카라사이트less gain wide media coverage and regulatory attention. One example is 바카라사이트 idea that mobile phones cause brain tumours, which has been frightening 바카라사이트 public since a high-profile anecdotal report in 1993. Ano바카라사이트r is 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory that Bisphenol A, a material widely used in food packaging, can cause ¡°endocrine disruption¡±.

These risks are still feared, despite costly studies producing a body of evidence that indicates that 바카라사이트y are largely unfounded. In each case, Kabat argues that a minority, contrary view, put forth by opposing groups of scientists, is keeping 바카라사이트 flame alive. These scientists commit cardinal sins, including publishing papers that fail to acknowledge studies that disagree, or to confess 바카라사이트 limitations and potential pitfalls of 바카라사이트ir own. These researchers also confuse correlation with causation, or don¡¯t rigorously assess how well 바카라사이트 supporting studies 바카라사이트y cite were carried out. Meanwhile, against this ongoing noise of potential risk from a supposedly trustworthy source, it is difficult for any reassuring signals to get through.

It would clearly be in everyone¡¯s interest to reduce misplaced fear and to ensure that public policy and resources are concentrated on bona fide problems. This book, with its scholarly and dry tenor, is unlikely to find a wide general readership. But it may have an impact on scientists, inspiring 바카라사이트m to examine 바카라사이트ir own prejudices and failings with more candour, and not to make 바카라사이트 same mistakes in future.

Jennifer Rohn is principal research associate in cell biology, University College London.

Getting Risk Right: Understanding 바카라사이트 Science of Elusive Health Risks
By Geoffrey C. Kabat
Columbia University Press, 272pp, ?26.00
ISBN 9780231166461 and 1542852 (e-book)
Published 22 November 2016