Regulating Toxic Substances: A Philosophy of Science and the Law

This book in the philosophy of law and risk assessment is concerned with the topic is standards of evidence in legal proceedings and regulatory decisions about the toxicity of chemicals. Cranor argues that the scientific and statistical criteria usually used to determine whether substances are toxic are too rigorous and time-consuming for evidentiary purposes in tort cases and for regulation. The result is the under-regulation of toxic substances and the under-compensation of plaintiffs in tort cases. Cranor proposes the evidential standards now used should be evaluated with the purposes of the law in mind.