Abstract
Introduction
The precautionary principle, a recommendation to consider action to avoid a possible harm even if it is not certain to occur, is variously defined and interpreted. I will present a range of definitions with an emphasis on their requirements for strength of evidence of harm and for actions to be taken. I will describe the variety of approaches that have been adopted in developing policy to address the issue of possible health effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) in the face of scientific uncertainty. Further, I discuss specific aspects of scientific uncertainty regarding EMF health risks particularly relevant to the development of precautionary principle policy. I will define and discuss prudent avoidance and other unique features of applications of the precautionary principle to EMF. I will conclude with examples from EMF policy decisions of risk tradeoffs that need to be considered in developing any precautionary principle policy, and provide recommendations for better ways to define and implement the precautionary principle.
Introduction
The precautionary principle is one of many guides
society can use when deciding whether to take action to
protect people from possible harm. It is essentially a
“better safe than sorry” approach suggesting that action
should be taken to avoid harm even when it is not certain
to occur.
All risks are to some degree uncertain, but the degree of
uncertainty varies.
Clearly, when the harm associated with a risk is slight
and its occurrence very uncertain, little or no action should be taken. Conversely, when the harm is great and
there is little uncertainty about its occurrence, significant
action is called for. It is in the gray area where
substantial harm is postulated but certainty about
whether it will occur is low, or where the degree of harm
is low but the certainty is high, that policymaking is
more difficult and some decision rules are needed as a
guide to action. The precautionary principle provides a
framework that can help provide a basis for decisions
about whether to take action and what action to take in
uncertain situations, if it is supplemented by other
decision rules and risk evaluation.
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