Steve Milloy: Junk Science's Regulatory Overreach and Risk Misapprehension

Steve Milloy passionately critiques the misuse of science, specifically epidemiology and risk assessment, to advance agendas under the guise of public health and environmental protection. Steve passionately critiques the misuse of science, particularly epidemiology and risk assessment, to forward agendas under the pretense of public health and environmental protection. With a foundation in science, statistics, and law, he has spent over three decades exposing what he terms "junk science"—scientific research and conclusions he views as manipulated or flawed, used to support harmful or misleading policies. Mr. Milloy illuminates issues in epidemiology, environmental regulation, and public health crises, arguing that often, fear and regulatory actions significantly outweigh the actual risks. Key topics include his criticism of linear no-threshold models for radiation exposure, the challenges in nuclear energy development due to regulatory overreach, and the misrepresentation of environmental and health risks such as radon exposure and asbestos. We also delve into broader themes of scientific integrity, regulatory overreach, and the impact of misinformation on public policy and perception.
Top 10 Quotes:
Junk Science Definition: "Junk science is bad science used to advance a special agenda."

Personal Background: "I have... background in science and statistics. I'm also a lawyer."

Epidemiology Critique: "The vast majority of epidemiology is just junk science(s)."

EPA Risk Assessments: "I learned very quickly from EPA that epidemiology was just being completely abused."

Radon Misinformation: "The scare is largely based on the epidemiologic study of underground uranium miners...and then the EPA just extrapolated that."

Linear No Threshold Model: "The linear no-threshold model...assumes that if something causes cancer at very high doses, then any exposure can cause cancer."

Radiation Risks Misunderstood: "There has never been any science to it [linear no-threshold model]. It's just an assumption."

Fukushima Misinterpretation: "A thousand people died not because of the radiation but because of the panic induced by the evacuation."

Asbestos Misconceptions: "Asbestos was a huge issue...the asbestos was perfectly safe (undisturbed) in the schools."

Scientific Misinformation and Fear: "People are just terrified about radiation and they think that it's going to cause mutations and cancer."