Collaborative on Health and the Environment1

Precautionary PrincipleWorking Group

NAHMMA's 2005 ConferenceSeptember 18-23, 2005Tacoma, Washington

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

CHE-WA

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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

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NW Public Health

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

nwph

Public Health and the Precautionary

Principle

By Steven G. Gilbert

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Child Health

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Developmental Data

2863 above 1 Million pounds

78.2% no data

21.4% some data

12 or 0.4% good data

www.preventingharm.org

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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

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“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

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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

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• 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 (environmental justice)

Wingspread Conference, 1998.

Central components

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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

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• 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

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

Resolution Submitted to Washington State Public Health Association

WSPHA Resolution

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

emiller@iceh.org www.chenw.org PP Working Group:

Steven G. Gilbert, PhDsgilbert@innd.orgwww.asmalldoseof.org

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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/

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Precautionary PrincipleWorking Group

Questions or Comments?

Download Presentation from www.asmalldoseof.org

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Authorship Information

For Additional Information ContactSteven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT

E-mail: smdose@asmalldoseof.orgWeb: www.asmalldoseof.org

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

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Socially Responsible

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Doubt / Uncertainty

"Doubt is our product since it is the best means of competing with the 'body of fact' that exists in the mind of the general public.“

1969 an executive at Brown & Williamson owned by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

(Doubt Is Their Product by David Michaels in Scientific American, June 15, 2005)

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1) Respect - for the needs and rights of this and future generations as well as others who cannot speak for themselves

2) Humility - towards the natural world and our ability to understand it through science

3) Democracy - giving people a voice in matters that affect their lives

4) Responsibility - government’s public trust responsibility to manage the commonwealth for this and future generations.

- Individuals’ including industry, obligation to take responsibility for their actions in the world.

Values of the precautionary principle

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Improve decision making Promote integrated assessments Promote transparency Promote sharing of information Examine alternatives Examine uncertainties Encourage discussion among stake

holders

Purpose/Objectives