Children's Environmental Health: A Case Study in Implementing the Precautionary Principle

Abstract

The plausible threat to children from environmental exposures and uncertainty as to the magnitude and nature of potentially harmful effects provide a rationale for taking precautionary measures to prevent such exposures. The authors present principles for applying precaution to children's environmental health, and policy tools for implementing them. A stronger focus on primary prevention and a better understanding of the risks are needed.

Keywords:

• precautionary principle
• children
• environmental health
• public policy
• prevention
• comparative assessment