The precautionary principle: a critical apprasial of environmental risk assessment

Goklany argues that the precautionary principle was intended originally to be a general notion recommending that policymakers choose rules to produce overall reductions in environmental and public health risks. This principle, in the hands of environmentalists, is often used justify controlling or even banning any technology that cannot be proven to cause no harm. The author seeks to show that this current use of the precautionary principle is flawed, and offers a framework consistent with the original interpretation of the principle to help resolve dilemmas such as global warming, the use of nanotechnologies, and various other potential pollutants.