Ethics, The Precautionary Principle, and Our Future

A Small Dose of Toxicology Ethics & Prec Prin 10/15/05

Ethics, The Precautionary Principle, and Our Future

“Out of Harm’s Way: Preventing Toxic Threats to our Children’s Health”

October 15, 2005Spokane, WA

Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABTwww.asmalldoseof.org

Ethics & Prec Prin 10/15/05 A Small Dose of Toxicology

CHE-WA – PP working group

More Information on Precautionary Principle

See: www.asmalldoseof.org -- smdose

CHE-WA – PP working grouphttp://washington.chenw.org/PPgroup.html


NW Public Health

See: http://healthlinks.washington.edu/nwcphp/nph/

nwph

Public Health and the Precautionary

Principle

By Steven G. Gilbert


Ethical Perspective

Public Health, Ethics and the Precautionary Principle – Its

Matter of Policy NOT Resources

And Externalized Costs


Child Health


“Conditions that ensure that all living things have the best opportunity to reach and maintain their full genetic potential.”

S. Gilbert (1999)

Environmental & Human Health


Developmental Data

2863 above 1 Million pounds

78.2% no data

21.4% some data

12 or 0.4% good data

www.preventingharm.org


Nearly 12 million children (17%) under age 18 in the US suffer from one or more developmental disabilities

Learning disabilities – 5-10% of kids in public school

ADHD – 3-6% of all school kids, maybe higher

The Consequences


"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." -

Aldo Leopold, 1949, A Sand County Almanac

The First Bioethicist

---------- 1887 - 1948 ----------

Aldo Leopold


“An ethic, ecologically, is a limitation on freedom of action in the struggle for

existence”Aldo Leopold

Limits on Freedom


“The Commons”

The Tragedy of the CommonsBy Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968


Technical Solutions

“It is our considered professional judgment that

this dilemma has no technical solution.”

The Tragedy of the CommonsBy Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968


Problems – Solutions?

Lead and kids Fetal alcohol syndrome Nuclear disarmament Bioterrorism Ocean Fisheries Persistent chemicals The Commons


“When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment,

precautionary measures should be take even if some cause and effect relationships are not

fully established scientifically.”

Wingspread Conference, 1998.

Precautionary Principle


FDA regulations of Drugs (1938) FDA regulations of Dietary

Supplements (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA))

Ephedra present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury (Dec, 2003)

Safety & Efficacy vs Harm


• Taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty

• Shifting the burden of proof/responsibility to the proponents of an activity

• Exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions

• Increasing public participation in decision making

Wingspread Conference, 1998.

Central components


Seattle Precautionary Principle - White Paper

A Policy Framework for Adopting the Precautionary Principle

Seattle PP Working Group


City Comprehensive Plans• Every citizen of Seattle has an equal right

to a healthy and safe environment. • Seattle sees the Precautionary Principle

approach as its policy framework to develop laws for a healthier and more just Seattle.

Seattle PP working group

Seattle Initiative


• Seattle Precautionary Principle White Paper (www.asmalldoseof.org)

• Inclusion of PP in Comp Plan Environment Element

(http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Seattle's_Comprehensive_Plan/DPD_001178.asp) Link

Result of Effort


“Protecting Public Health by Adopting the Precautionary Principle as an Approach to Decision Making”

Resolution Submitted to Washington State Public Health Association

WSPHA Resolution


California

San Francisco Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance - June 2005

Resolution of the Marin county board of supervisors

“A resolution to continue to incorporate the precautionary principle in county operations.” Oct 2004

Oregon

Multnomah County, OR Resolution - September 2004 New York State Legislation - April 2005 Bill A07256 “To protect public health and the environment by establishing

a precautionary policy for state and local governments in New York State.” Bill A07257 “To establish a preference for the purchase of commodities,

services, and technologies by the State of New York that minimize

potential adverse impacts on public health and the environment.”

States in the US


Kids-Safe Chemicals Act of 2005U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg

Update the Toxic Substances Control Act

Toxic chemicals must be tested

Focus on Prevention

US Government Effort


Agreement Respecting Canada-wide Standards for Dioxins and Furans: Steel Manufacturing Electric Arc Furnaces

Pollution Prevention Strategy“In keeping with the Precautionary Principle as set out as guidance in the Canada-wide Standards Sub-agreement, and in consideration of the CWS principles of sound science, technical feasibility and socio-economic impacts, …..”http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/notices/NoticeText.cfm?intNotice=159&intDocument=939

Canada and PP


REACH -- Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals

The two most important aims are to improve protection of human health and the environment from the hazards of chemicals and enhance the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.

The Commission’s White Paper on the Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy was adopted in on 13 February 2001.

A Precautionary approach

REACH-European Union


REACH -- Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals

Initially regulate High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals - produced or imported above 1,000 metric tons.

Total world wide production of chemicals 400 million metric tons per year or $1.6 Trillion

To be introduced into European Parliament late this year.

REACH


WA State – Resolution at WA State Public Health Association

WA State - expand recognition of PP at City, State, and County Level

Gain National recognition for a precautionary approach in decision making regarding human and environmental health

PP Next Steps


How You Can Get Involved

• Join National CHE - www.cheforhealth.org• CHE-NW/CHE-WA coordinator:

Elise Miller, MEd, Executive Director

Institute for Children’s Environmental Health

[email protected] www.chenw.org

• PP Working Group: Steven G. Gilbert, [email protected]


The Potential of Children


Additional Information

The Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN) (www.sehn.org)

Late lessons from early warnings: the precautionary principle 1896-2000 – European Environment Agency (free)

Garrett Hardin - The Tragedy of the Commons (Science, 1968)

Ethical, legal, and social issues: our children's future. Steven G. Gilbert. Neurotoxicology, 26/4 pp 521-530, 2005.

Public Health and the Precautionary Principle. Steven G. Gilbert. NW Public Health, Spring 2005. http://healthlinks.washington.edu/nwcphp/nph/


Ethics and the Precautionary Principle

Questions or Comments?

Download Presentation from www.asmalldoseof.org


Authorship Information

For Additional Information ContactSteven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT

E-mail: [email protected]: www.asmalldoseof.org

This presentation is supplement to “A Small Dose of Toxicology”


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Ethics, The Precautionary Principle, and Our Future