Perspectives on Environmental Health Policy: Symposium Introduction

• Published in: Policy studies journal Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 66 - 69
• Main Authors: Graber, David R., Johnson, James J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 22.03.1995; Policy Studies Organization; University of Illinois
• Subjects: Economic aspects; Environmental health; Environmental policy
• ISSN: 0190-292X; 1541-0072
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-0072.1995.tb00505.x

Environmental health policy began to be emphasized only in the late 1960s, when senators Edmund Muskie and Henry Jackson worked for the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act and the EPA was created. The initial period of enthusiasm in the 1970s produced environmental targets to be attained at any cost. In the 1980s, however, it became clear that a variety of issues related to environmental health policy had to be considered, such risk characterization, risk assessment, social and economic costs, methodological issues and international issues.