Food is an intrinsic part of every society, but recently it has become a source of worry for many Americans and government officials. It has been estimated that more than 76 million people in the United States - more than a quarter of the population - suffer from food poisoning each year. There also lurks potential for food contamination from food brought in from other countries, as well as threats of bioterrorism. Despite these risks, most Americans take the safety of their food for granted and take very minimal precautions when preparing or handling food. New techniques to ensure food...

Exploring the political and ethical issues associated with this area of study, Stem Cell Research gives students and general readers alike a comprehensive look at both the science and the controversy surrounding this groundbreaking research. This first-stop reference provides clear and essential information needed to define, understand, and research this important issue objectively.

It is impossible to ignore the relentless media reports of various human-made and natural disasters and the constant threats they pose to our society. Beyond the news headlines, recent disasters have prompted the restructuring of the U.S. government, namely the formation of the Department of Homeland Security and the reorganization of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With the ever-present threat of disasters from hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, landslides, drought, winter storms, nuclear accidents, terrorist attacks, and chemical contamination, the role...

Despite being the largest minority in the United States - a minority that anyone can join at any time in one's life - those with disabilities have traditionally remained a hidden minority. From the institutionalization of the handicapped for centuries in the United States to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's concealment of his battle with polio, disabilities have often been stigmatized as private struggles. However, the successes of civil rights movements rallied disabled Americans and their supporters to campaign for acceptance of disabilities and for equal protection under law. "Rights...

The treatment of animals has become a controversial issue over the years, with many questioning an animal's fundamental rights. For some, the issue of animal rights is merely an attempt to improve conditions of animals used for clothing, food, and other products, while others believe animals should be granted the same legal rights afforded to humans."Animal Rights, Revised Edition" provides an overview of the history of the animal rights movement and reactions to it, as well as the issues of animal experimentation, conditions on factory farms, laboratory animals, animals in entertainment,...

In recent years, new forensic methods have revolutionized crime scene investigations so that a single piece of evidence can often determine an individual's guilt or innocence. Tests involving fingerprinting, polygraphs, ballistics, toxicology, voice analysis, DNA typing, and other techniques can be combined or used independently to provide information about a crime. While some procedures produce results that are highly valid and reliable, others yield conclusions that may be uncertain or legally useless. "DNA Evidence and Forensic Science" explores the history of this fascinating topic and...

The use of biotechnology and genetic engineering has implications on all aspects of life--from the foods people eat to the way diseases are treated. As scientists and researchers discover more about this emerging field, moral concerns become a heated topic for people who question just how far this technology should reach. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering. Third Edition provides an overview of the history of this topic and the opinions surrounding it, ranging from the study of fermentation by French chemist Louis Pasteur in the 1850s to the nascent field of synthetic biology. Contemporary...

Rights of the Elderly provides an overview of the history of this timely topic and the opinions surrounding it--from the Social Security Act of 1935 to the current activism of groups such as AARP and the Gray Panthers. Examining recent court cases such as Kathi Cooper et al. v. IBM Personal Pension Plan and IBM Corporation and documents such as The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, this new volume provides multiple perspectives and decisions surrounding this issue while also plotting a course for the future of legislative action. A comprehensive and up-to-date overview essay,...

This work provides the clear and essential information that readers need to understand and research welfare issues. It demystifies today's tangled system of welfare laws, amendments, spending mandates, block grants, eligibility and work requirements, and tax policies.

Is the tobacco industry responsible for the harm caused by smoking? Should the government regulate tobacco as much as it regulates other drugs? Do tobacco ads manipulate consumers - particularly those at young ages - into adopting a harmful product? This book addresses these questions and others that pertain to smoking in the United States.