The Washington Toxics Coalition embraces the Precautionary Principle as the basis of our approach to human and environmental health. In its simplest form the Precautionary Principle calls for thoughtful decision-making to prevent potential harm to humans or the environment. This section of our website explains the philosophical foundation that supports our work and shows how it is being put into practice around the world.

Information on the Precautionary Principle

The Precautionary Principle: Reasonable, Rational, and Responsible -- Using examples from modern life (chemicals in breast milk, toxic lead in paint, fetal alcohol syndrome, and toxic flame retardants), toxicologist Steve Gilbert presents five common elements to a precautionary approach. We successfully apply precaution in the pharmaceutical industry, so why can't we apply it to industrial chemicals that cause cancer, brain damage, a myriad of other health effects, and environmental damage?

Seattle Precautionary Principle Working Group -- White paper that reviews the Precautionary Principle with a focus on the City of Seattle and King County, both in Washington state.

The Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN) -- SEHN is concerned with the wise application of science to the protection of the environment and public health. SEHN is also a think tank for the environmental movement, framing concepts and ethical considerations that give direction to the movement in North America and internationally.

European Environment Agency -- Late lessons from early warnings: the Precautionary Principle 1896-2000; Environmental issue report No. 22. Excellent review on what we can learn from our history of using toxic agents.

Ag Biotech InfoNet -- Covers all aspects of the application of biotechnology and genetic engineering in agricultural production and food processing and marketing. Provides a number of diverse links to issues related to the Precautionary Principle.

European Union -- Precautionary Principle - Food Safety: From the Farm to the Fork.

The Lowell Center Precautionary Principle Project, University of Massachusetts -- The Precautionary Principle Project seeks to refine and enhance understanding of the Precautionary Principle, and to investigate ways in which the Precautionary Principle supports sound science as well as social and economic well-being.

The Environmental Health Alliance BE SAFE campaign -- A nationwide initiative to build support for the precautionary approach to prevent pollution and environmental destruction before it happens.

Environmental Justice and Precaution, May 29, 2003 -- Environmental Research Foundation (Rachel's News).

Commission of the European Communities -- Communication on the Precautionary Principle, February 2, 2000.

Interrelationships between the Precautionary Principle, Prediction Strategies, and Sustainable Use of the Planet. John Cairns, Jr.; Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 111, No. 7, June 2003.

The Precautionary Principle and Public Health - The Precautionary Principle Also Applies to Public Health Actions. Bernard D. Goldstein, MD. American Journal of Public Health 1358-1361. Vol. 91, No. 9. September 2001. (c) 2001 American Public Health Association. Abstract:

"The Precautionary Principle asserts that the burden of proof for potentially harmful actions by industry or government rests on the assurance of safety and that when there are threats of serious damage, scientific uncertainty must be resolved in favor of prevention. Yet we in public health are sometimes guilty of not adhering to this principle.

"Examples of actions with unintended negative consequences include the addition of methyl tert-butyl ether to gasoline in the United States to decrease air pollution, the drilling of tube wells in Bangladesh to avoid surface water microbial contamination, and village wide parenteral antischistosomiasis therapy in Egypt. Each of these actions had unintended negative consequences. Lessons include the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to public health and the value of risk-benefit analysis, of public health surveillance, and of a functioning tort system -- all of which contribute to effective precautionary approaches."

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Stockholm, Sweden: United Nations; 1992. Publication E.73.II.A.14.

The Precautionary Principle In Action -- A Handbook. Science and Environmental Health Network, Joel Tickner, Carolyn Raffensperger, and Nancy Myers.

Explore a tutorial on the Precautionary Principle by Carol Williams from Environmental Community Action, Inc., in Atlanta.

Better Safe Than Sorry. Ruth Rosen, June 19, 2003, San Francisco Chronicle. Article about San Francisco's experience with adoption of the Precautionary Principle.

Interpreting the Precautionary Principle. Edited by Tim O'Riordan and James Cameron, 1994. Also see the other interesting information on the Die Off website.

When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution. Devra Lee Davis. Basic Books; November 5, 2002. (read a review)

Precaution, Predication, Proof, and Policy Assessment. Stephen Dovers. News Solutions, vol. 12(3), 2810296, 2002.

Precaution, Environmental Science, and Preventative Public Policy. Joel A. Tickner (editor). Discusses the Precautionary Principle, which calls for a thorough examination of new policies and technologies and an assessment of possible consequences prior to implementation. Provides a thorough definition of the principle, and its implication for environmental and public health policy. Argues against assertions that the Precautionary Principle is unscientific by providing discussions from scientists and case studies demonstrating the link between science, the Precautionary Principle, and policy. 406 pages, 2003. U.S. $30. Contact Island Press, 58440 Main Street, P.O. Box 7, Covelo, CA 95428; phone 800-828-1302; fax 707-983-6414; Publisher's website www.islandpress.org.

White Paper: The Precautionary Principle and the City and County of San Francisco. City of San Francisco. Recounts the history of the Precautionary Principle worldwide and the development of San Francisco's Precautionary Principle, implemented in March 2003. Discusses the scientific, ethical, and economic implications of the principle with examples from existing precautionary policies. 21 pages, 2003. Contact San Francisco Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone 415-355-3700; website www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfenvironment.

Taking Steps to Be Safe: Precautionary-Based Laws, Policies and Agreements. Environmental Health Alliance. A sample list of current international, national, state, and local laws, treaties and agreements, and industry initiatives based on the Precautionary Principle. Arranged in alphabetical order by issue, from arsenic-treated wood to Toxic Chemicals. 10 pages, 2003. Contact Environmental Health Alliance, P.O. Box 6806, Falls Church, VA 22040; phone 703-237-2249; website www.besafenet.com.

The Precautionary Principle Puts Values First. Nancy Myers. An overview of the Precautionary Principle including its history, definition, and implementation paying particular attention to the values underlying the principle. Also includes a defense against common criticisms of the principle and its current and potential role in policy-making and to enhance democratic processes. 10 pages, 2002. Contact Environmental Research Foundation, P.O. Box 160, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0160; phone 732-828-9995; fax 732-791-4603; website www.rachel.org.