Benefits and Limitations of the Precautionary Principle

Ricci, Paolo F.; Sheng, Hua‐Xia

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-52272-6.00230-0

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This study explored the influence of these changes on the chemical status of rivers. Several methodological choices were made based on the precautionary principle, which is recommended in situation of scientific uncertainty regarding potential damage to the environment (Crawford‐Brown & Crawford‐Brown, ; Ricci & Sheng, ). In return, the strictest combination of risk coefficients was analyzed and the most vulnerable state of the river analyzed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How water quality standards for pesticides affect the classification of the chemical status of rivers

Milano

Chèvre

2019

WIREs Water

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Awareness of the presence of high concentrations of pesticides in Swiss rivers has increased in the last decade. Since 2017, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications is planning to introduce new regulatory acceptable concentrations for surface water of 38 organic pesticides. Based on pesticide concentration analyses carried out in a small agricultural catchment in the canton of Vaud, over the 2005–2015 period, we review the impacts of this legislative revision on the chemical status of rivers. A first comparison between the historical standard (0.1 μg/L) and revised water quality criteria (WQC) highlights that standards are raised for 12 pesticides and lowered for 25 pesticides, sometimes with very high ratios. Risk coefficients were computed based on the historical standard and revised WQC to determine the chemical status of the river. The worst‐case value was retained to define this status. Individual risk coefficients indicate that more pesticides meet the revised WQC than the historical one, leading to very different chemical status. According to the historical standard, the chemical status of the Boiron River is defined as moderate to poor, and the main problem is the presence of herbicides. According to the revised WQC, the chemical status is good, and periodically moderate or poor. Ninety percent of the pesticides identified had a low to very low ecotoxicological risk coefficient. Other issues related to insecticides were identified. Based on these results, we discuss the importance of the standard chosen when defining regulatory acceptable concentrations. This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Science of Water > Water Quality Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How water quality standards for pesticides affect the classification of the chemical status of rivers

Milano

Chèvre

2019

WIREs Water

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“…A lack of transparency in communication can also undermine trust in institutions [ 91 ]. Moreover, scientists are often poorly trained in communication skills, particularly those required during catastrophic events [ 92 , 93 , 94 ]. Additionally, policy-making is a complex political process in which decision-makers must balance tensions produced by divergent values, ideologies, resources, habits and traditions [ 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 ].…”

Section: Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

How Scientists View Vaccine Hesitancy

et al. 2023

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This paper examines possible causes, consequences, and potential solutions for addressing vaccine hesitancy in the United States, focusing on the perspectives of academic scientists. By examining the experiences of scientists, who are arguably a critical community in US society, we gain deeper insights into how they understand the complexities of vaccine hesitancy and whether their insights and opinions converge with or diverge from the current literature. We present findings from a national survey of a representative sample of academic scientists from the fields of biology and public health regarding vaccine hesitancy and related topics. Empirical analysis using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses covers multiple topics, including vaccine controversy, trust in science, causes of vaccine hesitancy, preferred policy and regulatory approaches, risk perceptions, and scientists’ ethics and perceived communication roles. The results highlight a diversity of opinions within the scientific community regarding how to improve science-society communication in regard to vaccines, including the need to be transparent and candid to the public about the risk of vaccines and their research.

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“…For biological conservation, Conroy et al [26] noted that, although potential impacts of climate change are understood at global or regional scales, impacts at finer scales are not. Nevertheless, following the precautionary principle [27], conservation decisions cannot await "perfect information" and instead must proceed in the face of uncertainty. Moreover, conservation should precede in an adaptive management framework as new information becomes available.…”

Section: An Overview Of Efforts In Developing Monitoring Framework For Ecosystem-based Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Framework for Monitoring Ecosystems-Based Adaptation to Climate Change: Experience from The Gambia

et al. 2021

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Implementing ecosystems-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change is challenged by the need to monitor biophysical, socio-cultural, and economic impacts which are usually context-specific. Therefore, robust frameworks are required that integrate impacts to better understand EbA effectiveness. Monitoring frameworks that are universally applicable to EbA are desirable, however their universal application is problematic as they should reflect a community-driven design that accommodates both donor reporting functions and the generation of local-level data and information to support management actions and community initiatives. Initial products from this research include a generic, five-step process for developing and testing adaptation indicators, a robust framework consisting of (i) the indicators, data and information used to design the framework, (ii) the operational EbA platform that houses and computes the adaptation indicators, and (iii) the participating institutions, and initial, community-level applications to guide water management, replenishment of the vegetation cover, and business development. Immediate benefits to rural communities include the re-orientation of performance indicators mapped to their needs as opposed to donor reporting alone. The framework contributes to the set of tools currently in use for EbA monitoring by offering an umbrella within which existing tools can be applied. Near-term future research will focus on improving the utility of the framework and its platform beyond reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs) by adapting the EbA platform to support changing management needs. Future research will be needed to understand the extent to which the environmental changes in The Gambia compared to changes across the Sahel and Sudano-Sahel regions of West Africa and whether the lessons learned from The Gambia could be extrapolated to the subregion.

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Benefits and Limitations of the Precautionary Principle

Cited by 5 publications

References 20 publications

How water quality standards for pesticides affect the classification of the chemical status of rivers

How water quality standards for pesticides affect the classification of the chemical status of rivers

How Scientists View Vaccine Hesitancy

A Framework for Monitoring Ecosystems-Based Adaptation to Climate Change: Experience from The Gambia

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