Institutionalized participation in regulatory toxicology

Abstract

Public participation in risk management decisions has a sound legal base in Europe. In democracy it replaces the authoritarian top-down risk management. Participation of the public changes the role of scientific toxicology. Toxicologists should state clearly their models, assumptions, and resulting uncertainties and strictly separate scientific analysis from extrapolation and opinion. Participatory risk management is based on the notion of the emancipated citizens, who are capable of informed risk appraisal and enable them to contribute their interests, beliefs, and values. The rationale and supposed benefits of public participation in decisions about environmental health risks are discussed, and different models applied so far are presented.