The Precautionary Principle in the 20th Century

The precautionary principle is widely seen as fundamental to successful policies for sustainability. It has been cited in international courts and trade disputes between the USA and the EU, and invoked in a growing range of political debates. Understanding what it can and cannot achieve is therefore crucial. This volume looks back over the last century to examine the role the principle played or could have played, in a range of major and avoidable public disasters. From detailed investigation of how each disaster unfolded, what the impacts were and what measures were adopted, the authors draw lessons and establish criteria that could help to minimise the health and environmental risks of future technological, economic and policy innovations. This is an informative resource for all those from lawyers and policy-makers, to researchers and students needing to understand or apply the principle.

ISBN 1853838926   DEWEY edition DC22 ISBN13 9781853838927 (What's this?)   Pages 288 Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd   Volumes 1 Imprint Earthscan Ltd   Weight (grammes) 498 Format Hardback   Published in London Publication date 15 Apr 2002   Previous ISBN 9781853838934 Non-book description xx, 268 p. :   Height (mm) 234 Writer of foreword Timothy O'Riordan   Width (mm) 156 Writer of introduction Tim O'Riordan (Professor of Environmental Studies, University of East Anglia)   Spine width (mm) 27 Library of Congress 2002002436   Academic level Undergraduate, Professional / Scholarly, Postgraduate DEWEY 333.714

		List of figures, tables and boxes
		Foreword by Tim O'Riordan
		Preface by Domingo Jimenez Beltran
		Acknowledgements
		List of acronyms and abbreviations
1		Introduction		1
2		Fisheries: taking stock by Malcolm MacGarvin		10
3		Radiation: early warnings, late effects by Barrie Lambert		26
4		Benzene: a historical perspective on the American and European occupational setting by Peter F. Infante		35
5		Asbestos: from 'magic' to malevolent mineral by David Gee and Morris Greenberg		49
6		PCBs and the precautionary principle by Janna G. Koppe and Jane Keys		64
7		Halocarbons, the ozone layer and the precautionary principle by Joe Farman		79
8		The DES story: long-term consequences of prenatal exposure by Dolores Ibarreta and Shanna H. Swan		90
9		Antimicrobials as growth promoters: resistance to common sense by Lars-Erik Edqvist and Knud Borge Pedersen		100
10		Sulphur dioxide: from protection of human lungs to remote lake restoration by Arne Semb		111
11		MTBE in petrol as a substitute for lead by Martin Krayer von Krauss and Poul Harremoes		121
12		Early warnings of chemical contamination of the Great Lakes by Michael Gilbertson		138
13		TBT antifoulants: a tale of ships, snails and imposex by David Santillo and Paul Johnston and William J. Langston		148
14		Hormones as growth promoters: the precautionary principle or a political risk assessment? by Jim W. Bridges and Olga Bridges		161
15		'Mad cow disease' 1980s-2000: how reassurances undermined precaution by Patrick van Zwanenberg and Erik Millstone		170
16		Twelve late lessons		185
		More...

'One of the most useful, comprehensive and readable books on environmental issues that I have ever read.' Tom Davey, Environmental Science and Engineering Magazine 'Policy makers concerned with climate change or genetic modifications should read this collection of early warnings wilfully ignored.' New Scientist 'The real value of this book is that it is a refreshing shift away from rhetoric towards a far more informed and careful analysis of precautionary action and the precautionary principle.' Journal of Environmental Law 'Makes excellent and thought-provoking reading.' Journal of Risk Research 'This is a valuable book, full of sensible discussions, useful insights and helpful guidance for the future.' Cass R Sunstein. The Yearbook of European Environmental Law volume 6 'I commend this to all who have an interest in environmental hazard and risk assessment and public policy.' Journal of the Royal Institute of Public Health

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