Comments & Controversies DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION: A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF PRECAUTIONARY PUBLIC HEALTH DECISION-MAKING

ABSTRACT 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. The precautionary principle is increasingly being discussed in debates about threats to health and the environment, particularly when government actions might inhibit free trade. It is gaining recognition as a crucial overarching principle of environmental decision-making, one that underlies efforts to achieve sustainable development. Pronouncements about the precautionary principle to date have generally focused on the responsibility of government to take action in the face of uncertainty and the shifting of burdens (for example, of safety, of providing information) onto proponents. This assumes that government will have the resources, knowledge, expertise, and will to take such action. The role of the 93 Ó 2001, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc

Precaution , environmental science, and preventive public policy

xix, 406 p .; 24 cm

University of Montana Environmental Studies Alumni Panel: Public Interest Science

An alumni panel on Public Interest Science featuring Chris Brick, Joel Tickner, and Alex Scanton, alumni of the University of Montana Environmental Studies Program. Panelist Bios: Chris Brick recently retired from 16 years as science director for the Clark Fork Coalition, a river conservation group dedicated to protecting and restoring the Clark Fork watershed. She holds a B.A. in geology, an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and a Ph.D. in geosciences focusing on the chemistry and hydrology of the Clark Fork River. At various times in her life she’s been a mining geologist, a groundwater consultant, a post-doctoral fellow in science education, and an adjunct professor at the University of Montana. She’s also volunteered on a number of boards for conservation groups, most recently, Climate Smart Missoula. In 2013, Chris was honored with the Arnold Bolle Conservation Professional award. She was instrumental in the restoration plans for the confluence of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers when Milltown Dam was removed, as well as work on water quality and ecological health throughout the Clark Fork drainage. Joel Tickner is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell where he directs the Chemicals Policy and Science Initiative of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. He also directs the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council, a network of more than 90 companies and other organizations dedicated to accelerating the adoption of green chemistry across supply chains and sectors. Joel is a leading expert on chemicals regulation, regulatory science, and application of alternatives assessment in science and policy. He has served as an advisor and researcher for several government agencies, international agencies, non-profit environmental groups, companies, and trade unions both in the U.S. and abroad. Joel served on the EPA’s National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee, as well as National Academy of Sciences panels around alternatives assessment and safer chemistry. He also directs the undergraduate environmental health program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He holds a BA in Spanish with a concentration in Environmental Science, an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, and a Ph D in Work Environment, Cleaner Production and Pollution from UMass Lowell. Alexandra Scranton is the Director of Science and Research at Women’s Voices for the Earth. Alex authors WVE’s scientific reports on toxic chemicals found in products and their impact on our health. She works to establish and maintain the scientific credibility of the organization’s programs. Prior to working at WVE, she worked in the epidemiology and statistics unit at the American Lung Association headquarters in New York. She currently sits on the Research Advisory Committee for the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative and on the Institutional Biosafety Committee for Rocky Mountain Laboratories (a National Institutes of Health facility). She has an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana and a B.A. from Amherst College. Alex lives and works from Woodland Park, CO, with her husband and two beautiful daughters. Use the following links to view the panelists\u27 theses: Chris Brick\u27s UM thesis Chris Brick\u27s UM dissertation Joel Tickner\u27s UM thesis Alex Scranton\u27s UM thesi

2 The precautionary principle and false

Lessons from health hazards | The precautionary principle and false alarms — lessons learne