The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71290

Michael Green, MS, MPP¹, Alise M. Cappel¹, Bruce Jennings, PhD², Ignacio H. Chapela, PhD³, and Lynn Goldman, MD, MPH⁴. (1) Center for Environmental Health, 528 61st Street, Suite A, Oakland, CA 94609, 510-594-9864, mgreen@cehca.org, (2) Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, California Legislature, 1305 Kaiser Road, SW, Olympia, WA 98512, (3) Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California - Berkeley, 334 Hilgard Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, (4) Department of Environmental Health Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room 8511, Baltimore, MD 21205

This session will explore the impact of corporate and industry influence on scientific research and public policy decision-making. The panelists will present several case studies that illustrate how undue corporate influence can interfere with objective scientific analysis and undermine efforts to have honest, balanced science guide public health policy. Following the presentations of these case studies, the panelists will then discuss remedies to safeguard the public’s health.

Learning Objectives:

• 3. Describe the role of scientific research and advisory bodies in public policy decision-making.
  7. Expose participants to the imapact of undue influence of corporate interests on scientific research and public policy decision-making.
  11. Describe specific cases in which bias and undue corporate influence have detrimentally influenced public decision making.
  15. Identify resources, opportunities, and strategies for reform.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.