New TAB Publication on the issue of Environment and Health [08.09.2000]

What are the negative impacts caused by human intervention into nature - especially by anthropogeneous physical, chemical or biological harmful substances? This question is at the focus of the latest publication of the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Parliament:>

Rolf Meyer, Arnold Sauter:
Gesundheitsförderung statt Risikoprävention? Umweltbeeinflußte Erkrankungen als politische Herausforderung. Berlin: Edition Sigma, 2000. (Studien des Büros für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung beim Deutschen Bundestag; 8), ISBN 3-89404-817-4, 189 S., DM 36,-

This question on the topic of "Environment and Health" conceals a great number of different themes and especially controversies of different kinds. Scientific disciplines and the corresponding expert cultures, political and economic interests, conceptions of the world and different perceptions confront each other and next to this or, more precisely, at the centre of it are humans with their concrete stories of suffering and illness. The report attempts to find explanations for the controversies over attitudes, to make suggestions in order to be in a better position to deal with them, and to outline approaches for preventive health protection which is not confined to risk prevention only, but does also include the improvement of conditions of life favourable for human health.