The role of scientific consensus organizations in the development of standards

Scientific research, discovery, and application have had, and continue to have, a significant impact on society. The description of how various scientific disciplines have impacted society would be a daunting task. The evolution of scientific organizations and their roles in development of occupational and environmental standards are described. Following the enactment of various laws in the U.S., the authors suggest that the role of scientific organizations is to ensure that the best available scientific information is provided to regulatory agencies, who in turn use that information in the development of standards. The authors also describe the role of stakeholders in the development of standards.