Science, Politics and Ethics in the Low Dose Debate

Author: Baverstock, Keith

Source: Medicine, Conflict and Survival, Volume 21, Number 2, April-June 2005 , pp. 88-100(13)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The roles of science, ethics and politics are identified in respect of the risks of exposure to low-dose radiation. Two case studies, the epidemiology of the United Kingdom nuclear test veterans and the risks to civilians associated with the military use of depleted uranium, are considered in the context of their ethical framing, scientific evaluation and political resolution. Two important issues for the present and future, the safe management of UK radioactive waste and the future of nuclear power, in which the science of low dose effects will be crucial and where the ethical issues are much more complex, are introduced. Specific consideration is given to the potential hereditary effects of ionising radiation in relation to the current state of radiobiological knowledge. It is concluded that for science to be useful in public health policy making there needs to be some reform from within the profession and the political imperative for freely independent scientific institutions.

Keywords: Depleted uranium; Ethics; Genomic instability; Nuclear power; Nuclear weapons tests; Politics; Radiation risks; Radioactive waste; Science

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13623690500073380

Affiliations: 1: University of Kuopio, Finland

Publication date: 2005-04-01