Philosophy Professor Alerts Public of Legalized Health Risks

Professor Carl Cranor of the UCR Philosophy department has long combined his knowledge of law with his passionate interest in scientific advancement for the benefit of public health and awareness. As evidenced by his past works, Are Genes Us? The Social Consequences of the New Genetics and Regulating Toxic Substances: A Philosophy of Science and the Law, both published in the early 90s, Professor Cranor has concentrated much of his scholarship on technological and research advancements for the purpose of improving legislation, and therefore more effectively protecting the health of our citizenry. His new book, Legally Poisoned: How the Law Puts Us at Risk from Toxicants, continues this dedication to public welfare by discussing the potentially hazardous and life-altering substances commonly contained in popular, mass consumed, legal every day products. Professor Cranor’s work, published by Harvard University Press, promises to be an eye-opening piece for a likely unsuspecting public when it is released in Winter 2011.

A wide range of products that people feel comfortable with, that most don’t even think twice about using, contain toxins that are known to cause damage in experimental animals during early life-exposures, even in minimal doses. These products are not only currently legal, but in essence protected by a number of technical barriers that make their legality difficult to challenge if continued research presents further concerns. Despite the fact that products like thalidomide, a sedative drug prescribed in the late 50s and often used by pregnant women (later found to cause severe birth defects), have previously proven that solid scientific standards in the pre-marketing stage, before consumers are lulled into a false sense of security by advertising and availability, are necessary to prevent health damage, current laws continue to uphold a kind of retroactive policy toward safety measures. Within our current legal guidelines, people often contract diseases or suffer dysfunctions, sometimes quite severe ones, before steps are taken to regulate a particular product.

Professor Cranor’s research recognizes that humans have been subject to molecular contamination throughout history, and that it is beyond our capabilities to prevent this contamination in its entirety. It is his professional conclusion, however, that the extent to which we are exposed to dangerous toxins can be significantly reduced through further research before substances enter commerce, and responsible legal reactions to this research in the pre-marketing phase.

Professor Cranor recommends environmentalhealthnews.org for daily information on current health concerns.

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