BELLE, A Paradigm Shift? R. R. Cook, Dow Corning Corporation, CO1120, Midland, MI 48686-0994
What we perceive is culturally determined. Both layman and scientists alike are conditioned to particular mental constructs. These "habits of the mind" or paradigms not only facilitate, they also constrain our ability to interpret data. As a consequence, low level exposures to toxic agents currently are presumed to produce effects analogous to, albeit possibly of lesser magnitude than, those associated with higher level exposures. However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests the biologic effects of low level exposures (BELLE) cannot be determined by simple extrapolation from those observed at higher levels. This paper explores why this evidence has been systematically ignored.