Law and science policy in federal regulation of formaldehyde

An examination of the way in which the Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Consumer Product Safety Commission each responded to evidence of formaldehyde's carcinogenicity in animal systems reveals the interplay between politics and science policy in regulatory determinations. In some cases there were significant and unjustified departures from reasoned decision-making. Agency decisions not to take action deserve special attention by citizens, the Congress, and the judiciary to ensure that federal regulatory agencies take the necessary steps to protect the public from significant health, safety, and environmental risks.

Stability and sex differences on the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory for students in grades two to twelve

This study reassessed the presence or absence of sex differences and investigated the stability of self-esteem as measured by Coopersmith's Self-esteem Inventory over 6 mo. for Grades 2 to 12. The subjects were 591 students, 296 male and 295 female, enrolled in an urban central Maine school district. No sex differences were found on any of the subscales or total scale score on either the pretest or posttests by grade. Significant correlations, small to moderate in size, were found for all grades on two scales, general self and total self. The results and implications are discussed.