Controversies over how to manage health and environmental risks have caused bitter disagreements among society. Trying to strike a balance between public interest and the core concerns of industry are always difficult. In this book Leiss and Chociolko argue that controversies arise because participants try to avoid assuming responsibility for the consequences of the risk-taking that they advocate.

Part 1 The roots of disagreement: managing risks; apportioning responsibility. Part 2 obstacles to consensus: two seemingly intractable controversies; Power frequency electric and magnetic fields - expert assessment; power frequency electric and magnetic fields - a public controversy; alar, or who benefits? Part 3 Towards consensus: stakeholder negotiation; antisapstain chemicals; useful lessons.