The EPA is trying to decide whether or not to ban a certain chemical that has been associated with acid rain. What would be the most helpful in their decision-making process?

polls on whether people like the chemical
scientific information about the chemical and its effects
scientific information about the general effects of pollution
polls on people’s opinions of acid rain

1 answer

The most helpful in the EPA's decision-making process would be scientific information about the chemical and its effects. This would provide the agency with factual data on the specific chemical in question, enabling them to determine its impact on the environment and its contribution to acid rain. Understanding the chemical's properties, toxicity levels, and potential for causing acid rain would be crucial in making an informed decision. Scientific information about the general effects of pollution would also be important but may not provide the specific details needed for evaluating the chemical in question. Polls on people's opinions and preferences are subjective and may not necessarily align with the scientific truth or the potential environmental risks associated with the chemical. Therefore, such polls would be of less significance in this decision-making process.