You can use your understanding of the nature of science to discover the real meaning of news stories on health, science, and other national issues.
For instance, how does the Montreal Protocol affect asthma sufferers? CFCs were used in metered dose inhalers (MDIs) to deliver medication to asthma patients. Initially Canada requested, and was granted, an essential-use exemption for MDIs using CFC propellants. Having found that alternative hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA) propellants met safety guidelines, Health Canada proceeded with the transition. As of 2010, 99% of MDIs sold in Canada were CFC-free.
In Canada, The Canadian Lung Association (www.lung.ca) and The Asthma Society of Canada (www.asthma.ca) helped the public understand and accept this change. However, in the United States, where a similar process had occurred, there was resistance from the National Campaign to Save CFC Asthma Inhalers (www.savecfcinhalers.org).
Evaluate the websites and work with the information to answer the following questions:
Who runs each website? Do their credentials make the information presented about non-CFC MDIs reliable or unreliable? Explain.
What is the mission of each website? What are the underlying values? How do you know this?
What claim does each website make about CFCs, the ozone hole, and MDIs? How do the websites compare in providing scientific evidence in support of their position on non-CFC MDIs? Is the information provided accurate and reliable? Explain.
What sorts of links do the websites provide for additional information? Are these supporting links reliable and representative of scientific knowledge? Explain.
Whose position on non-CFC MDIs do you agree with? Explain why.