ABSTRACT
This chapter describes erroneous beliefs and assumptions many people hold that can affect their interpretation of epidemiologic and other scientific data. In legal cases about environmental causes of disease (toxic torts), the epidemiologist can provide effective background information to counter these common beliefs and the underlying assumptions. Therefore, the information provided by an epidemiologist can be helpful, regardless of whether or not epidemiologic data are available for the chemical or physical agent in a specific toxic tort case.
