Ethics, The Precautionary Principle, and Our Future

1. Ethics, The Precautionary Principle, and Our Future “Out of Harm’s Way: Preventing Toxic Threats to our Children’s Health” October 15, 2005 Spokane, WA Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT www.asmalldoseof.org

2. 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

3. NW Public Health Public Health and the Precautionary Principle By Steven G. Gilbert See: http://healthlinks.washington.edu/nwcphp/nph/ nwph

4. Ethical Perspective Public Health, Ethics and the Precautionary Principle – Its Matter of Policy NOT Resources And Externalized Costs

5. Child Health

6. 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)

7. Developmental Data 2863 above 1 Million pounds 12 or 0.4% good data 21.4% some data 78.2% no data www.preventingharm.org

8. 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

9. 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 ----------

10. Limits on Freedom “An ethic, ecologically, is a limitation on freedom of action in the struggle for existence” Aldo Leopold

11. “The Commons” The Tragedy of the Commons By Garrett Hardin, Science, 1968

12. 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

13. Problems – Solutions? • Lead and kids • Fetal alcohol syndrome • Nuclear disarmament • Bioterrorism • Ocean Fisheries • Persistent chemicals • The Commons

14. 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.

15. 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)

16. 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.

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

18. 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

19. 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_Comprehensive_Plan/DPD_001178.asp) Link

20. WSPHA Resolution “Protecting Public Health by Adopting the Precautionary Principle as an Approach to Decision Making” Resolution Submitted to Washington State Public Health Association

21. 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.”

22. 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

23. 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/NoticeText.cfm?intNotice=159&intDocument=939

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

25. 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.

26. 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

27. Join National CHE - www.cheforhealth.org CHE-NW/CHE-WA coordinator: Elise Miller, MEd, Executive Director Institute for Children’s Environmental Health emiller@iceh.orgwww.chenw.org PP Working Group: Steven G. Gilbert, PhD sgilbert@innd.org www.asmalldoseof.org How You Can Get Involved

28. The Potential of Children

29. 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/

30. Ethics and the Precautionary Principle Questions or Comments? Download Presentation from www.asmalldoseof.org

31. Authorship Information This presentation is supplement to “A Small Dose of Toxicology” For Additional Information Contact Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT E-mail: smdose@asmalldoseof.org Web: www.asmalldoseof.org

32. Socially Responsible