Martuzzi’s commentary on the precautionary principle is welcome and timely.¹ I will make a few largely supportive comments while perhaps anticipating and addressing some concerns that readers may have.

The 1998 Wingspread consensus statement characterised the precautionary principle this way: “when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically”.² The statement went on to list four central components of the precautionary principle:

1. taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty;

2. shifting the burden of proof to the proponents of an activity;

3. exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions; and

4. increasing public participation in decision-making.

A skeptical reader may ask: isn’t this just a fancy new name for what any responsible public health scientist has always done?

On the contrary, precaution brings important new insights into occupational and environmental health …