The case for a National Association of Physicians for the Environment

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Environmental Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(05)80125-2· OSTI ID:5887449

Grupenhoff, J T ^[1]

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1. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (USA) Science and Health Communications Group, Bethesda, MD (USA)

Beleaguered by numerous public policy difficulties, public officials at all levels appear confused and bewildered when additionally faced with burgeoning environmental problems. Emotion and rhetoric often replace solid fact in much discussion about environmental policy development. And yet the environmental issues, global in scope in many cases (the ozone layer, global warming, acid rain), and those which are more locally differentiated as to impact (air pollution, water pollution, pesticides, occupational environmental threats), certainly could lend themselves to systematic scientific and medical scrutiny. When viewed this way, it becomes clear that physicians' specialty organizations have an opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of environment public policy. Such physicians' organizations, for the most part, have already in place a national policy-making and communications apparatus, as well as an experienced, intelligent, and able leadership, and frequently have Washington (and in some cases state and local) staff to analyze policy proposals, to make recommendations regarding those proposals, and to carry out the organizations' decisions. This network could be carried over into environment matters. Most specialty organizations also have international relationships and activities.

• OSTI ID: 5887449
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Research; (USA) Vol. 53:1; ISSN ENVRA; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OZONE
PERSONNEL
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
RAIN
RECOMMENDATIONS
WATER POLLUTION