Is the precautionary principle used to cover up ignorance?
The precautionary principle is rapidly spreading in risk management in spite of vague understanding of its consequences. Some caveats are presented in this commentary, and some principles proposed for improved risk assessment/risk management procedures. Improvement is especially needed in such cases where the risks of different management options must be compared.
Tuomisto
Jouko
J
Centre of Environmental Health Risk Analysis, Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, P.O.B. 95, FIN-70701 Kuopio, Finland. jouko.tuomisto@ktl.fi
D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies / Q000592:standards; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods*