What does the precautionary principle mean to environmental research on health-related issues?
The precautionary principle allows scientifically sound and ethical decisions to be made on environmental and public health problems. The principle shifts the burden of scientific proof onto those who produce or release chemicals to study the effects a substance has on humans and the environment. It calls for precautionary measures to be considered based on the strength of evidence that an activity or substance could be harmful to humans or the environment and the availability of lower-risk alternatives, even if science has not fully established a cause-and-effect relationship. Environmental research on health-related issues can contribute to the body of evidence used in these decisions.
