Principles for decisions involving environmental and health risks
Activity Acronym:
-
Authors:
Gunnar Bengtsson (edt.)
Abstract:
Decision making with respect to safety is becoming more and more complex.
The risk involved must be taken into account together with numerous other factors
such as the benefits, the uncertainties and the public perception.
Can the decision maker be aided by some kind of system, general rules of
thumb, or broader perspective on similar decisions?
This question has been addressed in a joint Nordic project relating to nuclear
power. Modem techniques for risk assessment and management have been
studied, and parallels drawn to such areas as offshore safety and management
of genotoxic chemicals in the environment.
The topics include synoptic vs. incrementalistic approaches to decision making,
health hazards from radiation and genotoxic chemicals, value judgments in
decision making, definitions of low risks, risk comparisons, and principles for
decision making when risks are involved.