Commentary: the role of toxicology in prevention and precaution.
Advocates of the Precautionary Principle have recently called for a "new science" to support the goals of precaution-based environmental and occupational health policy. While much attention has been given to epidemiology, the evidentiary science most relevant to precaution, or prevention, is toxicology. Opportunities for enhancing the role of toxicology in public policy must consider current biases in the field. Thus, rather than a "new science", advocates for change should focus upon ensuring that current scientific methods are appropriate and that interpretations of scientific data are accurate.
Silbergeld
Ellen K
EK
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA. esilberg@jhsph.edu
D004782:Environmental Health; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011050:Policy Making; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
D015386:Hazardous Substances