Politicization of science

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Politicization of science occurs when interested parties assert a certain fact or principle as true, even when it remains unproven or is even manifestly untrue.

The best documented case in American history is the banning of DDT immediately after a hearing in which it was shown to be safe when used as directed. In small quantities, it can even be eaten by human beings - it's not a poison like arsenic or cyanide. The new EPA administrator disregarded the hearing results and unilaterally banned DDT, much to the detriment of foreign malaria sufferers. The U.S. ban put pressure on foreign governments to avoid using DDT for mosquito control, and efforts to squelch malaria failed (see Malaria epidemic).

Many other chemicals have been considered dangerous and banned for political reasons, often involving health scares. Also nuclear power and even the internal combustion engine have been targeted by partisans using junk science.