This paper examines "contested illnesses," which involve major scientific disputes and extensive public debates over environmental causes. I focus on three disputes: Gulf War-related illnesses, small air particles and asthma, and environmental causes of breast cancer. In each case, lay action by sufferers and their allies has been important in identifying diseases or conditions and their putative environmental causation. Citizen-science alliances have been formed to explore environmental causation, and these efforts have challenged many traditional scientific and medical assumptions. These efforts have put into the public venue an ongoing discussion of hypothesis development and scientific research procedures. Data comes from interviews and observations at research sites and community health organizations that are involved in these three areas, as well as government reports, scientific papers, and media coverage.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.