Ethics, The Precautionary Principle, and Our Future

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Ethics, The Precautionary Principle, and Our
Future
Out of Harms Way Preventing Toxic Threats to
our Childrens Health October 15, 2005 Spokane,
WA
Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT www.asmalldoseof.org
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CHE-WA PP working group
CHE-WA PP working group http//washington.chenw.
org/PPgroup.html
More Information on Precautionary Principle See
www.asmalldoseof.org -- smdose
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NW Public Health
Public Health and the Precautionary Principle By
Steven G. Gilbert
See http//healthlinks.washington.edu/nwcphp/nph/
nwph
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Ethical Perspective
Public Health, Ethics and the Precautionary
Principle Its Matter of Policy NOT
Resources And Externalized Costs
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Child Health
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Environmental Human Health
Conditions that ensure that all living things
have the best opportunity to reach and maintain
their full genetic potential. S. Gilbert (1999)
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Developmental Data
2863 above 1 Million pounds
12 or 0.4 good data
21.4 some data
78.2 no data
www.preventingharm.org
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The Consequences

• 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

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The First Bioethicist
Aldo Leopold
"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
---------- 1887 - 1948 ----------
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Limits on Freedom
An ethic, ecologically, is a limitation on
freedom of action in the struggle for
existence Aldo Leopold
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The Commons
The Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin,
Science, 1968
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Technical Solutions
It is our considered professional judgment that
this dilemma has no technical solution. The
Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin,
Science, 1968
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Problems Solutions?

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

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Precautionary Principle
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.
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Safety Efficacy vs Harm

• 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)

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Central components

• 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.

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Seattle PP Working Group
Seattle Precautionary Principle - White Paper A
Policy Framework for Adopting the Precautionary
Principle
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Seattle Initiative

• 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

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Result of Effort

• Seattle Precautionary Principle White Paper
  (www.asmalldoseof.org)
• Inclusion of PP in Comp Plan Environment Element
• (http//www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Seattle's_Com
  prehensive_Plan/DPD_001178.asp) Link

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WSPHA Resolution
Protecting Public Health by Adopting the
Precautionary Principle as an Approach to
Decision Making Resolution Submitted to
Washington State Public Health Association
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States in the US

• 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.

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US Government Effort

• Kids-Safe Chemicals Act of 2005
• U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg
• Update the Toxic Substances Control Act
• Toxic chemicals must be tested
• Focus on Prevention

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Canada and PP
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/Noti
ceText.cfm?intNotice159intDocument939
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REACH-European Union

• 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 Commissions White Paper on the Strategy for
  a future Chemicals Policy was adopted in on 13
  February 2001.
• A Precautionary approach

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REACH

• 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.

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PP Next Steps

• 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

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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 Childrens Environmental Health
• emiller_at_iceh.org www.chenw.org
• PP Working Group
• Steven G. Gilbert, PhD
• sgilbert_at_innd.org
• www.asmalldoseof.org

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The Potential of Children
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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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Ethics and the Precautionary Principle
Questions or Comments?
Download Presentation from www.asmalldoseof.org
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Authorship Information
This presentation is supplement to A Small
Dose of Toxicology
For Additional Information Contact Steven G.
Gilbert, PhD, DABT E-mail smdose_at_asmalldoseof.org
Web www.asmalldoseof.org
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Socially Responsible