Mad cows and mother's milk : the perils of poor risk communication / Douglas Powell and William Leiss.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Communicating the nature and consequences of environmental and health risks to the public is one of the most problematic areas for policy makers. Given the perceived risks associateed with the food we eat, chemicals in the environment, and modern technologies, consumers need clear and timely explanations of the nature of those risks - but they rarely get them. Using a series of high-profile examples - including the mad cow fiasco, E. coli outbreaks, and silicone breast implants, this book outlines the crucial role of risk management in dealing with public controversies and analyse risk communication practice and malpractice, providing a set of lessons for risk management communicators