Documents Tickner, Joel A. 16 results

"One of the concerns often voiced by critics of the precautionary principle is that a widespread regulatory application of the principle will lead to a large number of false positives (i.e., overregulation of minor risks and regulation of nonexisting risks). The present article proposes a general definition of a regulatory false positive, and seeks to identify case studies that can be considered authentic regulatory false positives. Through a comprehensive review of the science policy literature for proclaimed false positives and interviews with authorities on regulation and the precautionary principle we identified 88 cases. Following a detailed analysis of these cases, we found that few of the cases mentioned in the literature can be considered to be authentic false positives. As a result, we have developed a number of different categories for these cases of "mistaken false positives," including: real risks, "The jury is still out," nonregulated proclaimed risks, "Too narrow a definition of risk," and risk-risk tradeoffs. These categories are defined and examples are presented in order to illustrate their key characteristics. On the basis of our analysis, we were able to identify only four cases that could be defined as regulatory false positives in the light of today's knowledge and recognized uncertainty: the Southern Corn Leaf Blight, the Swine Flu, Saccharin, and Food Irradiation in relation to consumer health. We conclude that concerns about false positives do not represent a reasonable argument against future application of the precautionary principle."

"In this article, the authors explore the limitations of current chemicals management policies worldwide and the evolution of new European, International and U.S. policies to address the problem of toxic chemicals control. It is becoming increasingly apparent that current chemicals management policies in Europe and the United States are inadequate. There is a general lack of toxicity and exposure information on chemicals in commerce and the vast majority of chemicals were considered safe until proven guilty in legislation. Governments must then prove each chemical is dangerous through a slow and resource-intensive risk assessment process. For more than a decade, Nordic countries, such as Denmark and Sweden, have actively promoted integrated chemicals policies to address contamination of critical waterways. They have successfully used a variety of voluntary and mandatory policy tools, such as education, procurement, lists of chemicals of concern, eco-labeling, research and development on safer substitutes, and chemical phase-out requirements, to encourage companies using chemicals to reduce their reliance on harmful substances and to develop safer substitutes. While previously isolated to particular countries, innovative and exciting European-wide policies to promote sustainable chemicals management are now moving forward, including the recently published draft Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of CHemicals (REACH) policy of the European Union. A sweeping change in chemicals management policies in Europe is inevitable and it will ultimately affect manufacturers in the U.S. and globally. The European movement provides an opportunity to initiate a discussion on integrated chemicals policy in the U.S. where some innovative initiatives already are underway. "

"The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production has sought to engage scientists, policy-makers, advocates, and students in a broad public discussion about whether the tools and methods of environmental science and its integration in policy are adequate to address complex, highly uncertain environmental and health risks. It did so in an International Summit on Science and the Precautionary Principle and a recent collection of analyses stemming from the summit. Here, the author summarizes some summit recommendations to overcome barriers and build momentum for a vision for science and policy that better reflects uncertainty and complexity in natural systems. Appended is a summit statement on the subject."

"The precautionary principle is increasingly discussed in debates about threats to health and the environment, particularly when government actions might inhibit free trade. It is gaining recognition as an overarching principle of decision-making, one that underlies efforts for sustainable development. Pronouncements about the precautionary principle have focused generally on the responsibility of government to act in the face of uncertainty and the shifting of burdens onto proponents. This assumes that government will have the resources, knowledge, expertise, and will to act. The role of the public - those who may be affected by environmental degradation or their representatives - is mostly missing from the discussions. This article outlines a rationale for why participation is critical and explores the theory of citizen participation. The article also describes participatory models used around the world, primarily examples of citizen participation though various models also exist for workers."

"Background Polyvinyl chloride plastics (PVC), made flexible through the addition of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), are used in the production of a wide array of medical devices. From the late 1960s, leaching of DEHP from PVC medical devices and ultimate tissue deposition have been documented. Methods A critical review of DEHP exposure, metabolism, and toxicity data from human and animals studies was undertaken. A brief analysis of alternatives to DEHP-plasticized PVC for use in medical device manufacture was completed. Results DEHP leaches in varying concentrations into solutions stored in PVC medical devices. Certain populations, including dialysis patients and hemophiliacs may have long-term exposures to clinically important doses of DEHP, while others, such as neonates and the developing fetus, may have exposures at critical points in development. In vivo and in vitro research links DEHP or its metabolites to a range of adverse effects in the liver, reproductive tract, kidneys, lungs, and heart. Developing animals are particularly susceptible to effects on the reproductive system. Some adverse effects in animal studies occur at levels of exposure experienced by patients in certain clinical settings. DEHP appears to pose a relatively low risk of hepatic cancer in humans. However, given lingering uncertainties about the relevance of the mechanism of action of carcinogenic effects in rodents for humans and interindividual variability, the possibility of DEHP-related carcinogenic responses in humans cannot be ruled out. Conclusions The observed toxicity of DEHP and availability of alternatives to many DEHP-containing PVC medical devices presents a compelling argument for moving assertively, but carefully, to the substitution of other materials for PVC in medical devices. The substitution of other materials for PVC would have an added worker and community health benefit of reducing population exposures to DEHP, reducing the creation of dioxin from PVC production and disposal, and reducing risks from vinyl chloride monomer exposure. "

"During the last ten years, there has been a general trend in environmental regulation away from prescriptive approaches toward less adversarial performance-based, voluntary, or "partnership" approaches, in part due to the growth of voluntary industry environmental codes of conduct. This article analyzes one of these voluntary industry programs, the ISO 14,000 Environmental Management Standard in terms of how it may support or adversely affect progress toward Cleaner Production, prevention-oriented, holistic environmental policy. While the ISO 14,000 standard has been claimed to be the new "green seal" for industry, it suffers from numerous fundamental problems, which include: 1) its focus on improving management rather than performance; 2) its definition of pollution prevention, which includes end-of-pipe controls; 3) its lack of access to information or public participation; 4) its lack of measurement or comparability across firms; and 5) its lack of integration of environmental and occupational safety and health. Most concerning are the proposals of several U.S. states to offer regulatory relief to ISO 14,000-certified companies. This could possibly lead to a reversal in the environmental gains won over the last twenty years. While some companies may gain from the ISO standard's focus on improving organizational ability to address environmental impacts, it is clear that the ISO standard will not help improve environmental quality without a continued strong role for regulation. "

"During the last several years there has been increasing public concern about chemicals in everyday products. Scientific studies are increasingly revealing the build-up of some substances in ecosystems and in our bodies and new findings are linking exposures to hazardous chemicals to a range of adverse human health effects. Despite these trends, there has been little federal initiative in the United States on reforming chemicals management policies for well over two decades, even though a variety of analyses have identified significant gaps in the regulatory structure. As has historically been the case, states are beginning to fill the holes in federal leadership. This article explores this emerging state leadership and establishes a vision for and elements of policies to reduce hazardous chemicals in the products we buy and the places we go. It examines international efforts to reform chemicals management policies, such as the European REACH legislation and corporate leadership in advancing safer products. Finally, it outlines specific challenges states face in developing integrated, comprehensive chemicals management policies. We conclude that while there are plenty of challenges to implementation of chemicals policy reforms, it is a propitious time for states to become leaders in policy innovation that can help achieve safer production systems and products for future generations. This article is part of a Lowell Center for Sustainable Production report entitled "Options for State Chemicals Policy Reform" that provides in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of policy options to address a range of aspects of state-level chemicals policy reform. The article has been edited slightly for use in New Solutions. The report has been widely distributed to policy-makers, advocates, and others across the United States. "

"In October 2009, the US National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences announced 30 million dollars of funding for research on the hormone disrupting effects of bisphenol a (BPA). 1 BPA is a building block of polycarbonate plastic and a widely used raw material for resins and coatings. The research focuses on the contribution of low-dose exposures of BPA to obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, asthma, cardiovascular disease and various cancers. This research represents a critical contribution to our scientific understanding of endocrine disrupting chemicals; however not a single dollar was committed to studying safer alternatives to BPA. BPA exemplifies the limits of our current reactive, chemical-by-chemical approach to chemical assessment and management. Under this framework, chemicals are generally assumed safe and action is not warranted until ‘sound science' can adequately characterise the causes and mechanisms of effects on ecosystems or human health. As a result, decision making becomes mired in debates over mechanisms and relevance of animal studies. "