Cautionary Principles Research Articles

A sequential three-way risk sorting model with the cautionary principle under probabilistic linguistic environment

Risk assessment plays a crucial role in managing risks associated with systems, products and services. In practical risk assessment, the cautionary principle is widely adopted by individuals to prevent accidents, and the degree of caution varies with the risk level of potential hazardous activities (PHAs). Therefore, it is necessary to explore a sequential risk assessment model integrating the cautionary principle. To this end, we design an improved risk assessment model based on sequential three-way decision (STWD) model and cautionary principle. Firstly, a risk distance measure under probabilistic linguistic environment is proposed to effectively reflect varying degrees of caution when individuals analyzed PHAs of different risk levels. Then, a comprehensive risk weight optimization model is constructed on the consideration of the importance ranking and correlations of risk attributes. Subsequently, STWD and the as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) principle are integrated to build the risk sorting model, and both the risk prioritization and classification of PHAs are obtained from the sequential risk sorting process. Finally, we verify the reliability of our proposed model through an example of a floating offshore wind turbine system. The findings validate the crucial role of cautionary principle in risk assessment.

Risk of Neurotoxicity with Multiple General Anaesthetics for Examination Under Anaesthesia in Paediatric Ophthalmology - A Cause for Concern?

To evaluate the impact of clinical protocol change via active minimisation on the number of general anaesthetic (GA)/sedation episodes for diagnostic ophthalmic purposes at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street (CHI-TS), Dublin, Ireland, from 2016 to 2019, inclusive. Change was implemented following published cautionary principles in 2016 by the FDA regarding the potential neurotoxic risk from multiple GA exposure in children. Retrospective analysis of electronic operating theatre records was completed using procedure codes "Ophthalmological examination" and "Examination of fundi". Available records for patients undergoing multiple examination under anaesthesia (EUA) procedures were assessed for demographics, indication. Comparison was made regarding overall EUA numbers and breakdown for each year, before and after the new departmental approach. From 2018 onward, a patient-centred, departmental strategy of active minimisation of EUA was adopted, using strategies of "training, technology and patience". A literature review was conducted using online databases. A total of 450 EUAs were performed over the 4 years investigated. In the former 2 years of the study period, prior to departmental policy change, EUAs represented 32% (304 of 948 total theatre episodes) of the ophthalmic theatre caseload. In the latter 2 years of this study period, this proportion fell to 19% (146 EUAs of 783 theatre episodes). Total theatre case numbers were comparable in both time periods. Eighteen children had multiple EUAs (ie, ≥2 EUAs, mean 6.5, SD 2.9) for life/sight threatening indications, totalling 116 EUAs (25.7%). A significant reduction in diagnostic EUA volume was accomplished resulting in reduced individual patient risk and increased capacity for surgical interventions. A detailed description of this methodology is included for the purposes of replication at comparable units. EUA will continue to play a crucial role in the management of life/sight threatening conditions but the application of a cautionary principle to reduce EUA, where possible, is appropriate to reduce potential for neurotoxicity.

SARS-CoV-2 in Namibian Dogs

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has focused the attention of researchers, and especially public opinion, on the role of the human-animal-environment interface in disease emergence. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, media reports regarding the role of pets in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused significant concern and social anxiety. Although nowadays proven negligible in developed countries, essentially no studies have been performed in low-income African areas where companion animals are often raised differently from high income countries, and the contact patterns occurring in these scenarios could affect the epidemiological scenario. An extensive molecular biology survey was performed from March 2022 to September 2022 on Namibian dogs residing in urban and rural areas, showing a low but not negligible SARS-CoV-2 prevalence (1%; 95CI: 0.33-2.32%) of 5 out of 500. In only one instance (i.e., a 4-year-old female Labrador) was there a clear association that could be established between the infections of the owner and animal. In all other cases, no evidence of human infection could be obtained and no episodes of COVID-19 were reported by the owners. Although no consistent evidence of pet-to-pet transmission was proven in the present study, a cautionary principle suggests intensive and dedicated investigation into companion animal populations, especially when animal contact is frequent and a particularly susceptible population is present.

Effect of sewage sludge-derived amendments on the nutrient uptake by Chinese cabbage from Mediterranean soils

The utilization of sewage sludge (SS) as a fertilizer for agricultural land is increasingly seen by many as the best option for recycling. This study investigates the effects of SS-derived compost (SSC) or biochar (SSB) amendments on N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn and Mo uptake by Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis (Lour.) Hanelt) from terra rossa and rendzina soils. A two-factorial experiment was performed under greenhouse conditions whereby elemental concentrations (substrate, leachates and plants), edible tissue uptake (ETU), concentration ratios (CR) and soil characteristics were determined. The pH (7.03 to 7.32) and P content (286 to 421 mg/kg d.w.) in SSC- and SSB-amended soils increased, while EC (450 to 253 μS/cm) decreased. Phosphorous levels were higher in SSB-amended soils, although P leaching indicates a low environmental risk in both soils. In leaves, P (1.02 to 4.15 g/kg d.w.), K (12.8 to 21.8 g/kg d.w.), Mg (1.05 to 1.55 g/kg d.w.), Na (660 to 1350 mg/kg d.w.), and Mo (1.20 to 2.65 mg/kg d.w.) levels increased with amendment rate and were higher in SSC-amended soils. Nutrient bioavailability also increased with amendment rate, while cabbage biomass production increased proportionally to the dose. The P, K, and Mg levels were higher in leaves, while roots contained more Ca, Fe, and Mn. Despite amendment rates 10x the permitted dose of SS, they did not affect soil leachate, plant growth and biomass yield. Overall, adopting the cautionary principle is advised until the long-term effects are better understood.

The cautionary principle in risk management: Foundation and practical use

The precautionary principle is well known among scientists, politicians and the public in general. However, the closely related and broader cautionary principle is not so often referred to. Whereas the precautionary principle is typically invoked in cases of scientific uncertainties, the cautionary principle applies to the more general situation of risk and uncertainties. The present paper summarises and extends the argumentation adopted to justify the cautionary principle and presents and discusses some real-life examples of its use, covering both safety and security issues. The aim of the paper is to clarify the rationale of the principle in risk management, by reasoning and using these examples to illustrate the ideas and argumentation. The paper also refers to a new concept, the ‘anti-cautionary principle’, which stimulates actions and measures that can produce highly positive values.

Development of a conceptual warning system for toxic levels of Alexandrium fundyense in the Bay of Fundy based on remote sensing data

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) present a potential danger for human health and commercial activities, especially in coastal regions. Observing systems increasingly rely on remote sensors to monitor and possibly predict the locations and intensity of such blooms. Here we present a novel approach for detecting HABs of Alexandrium fundyense in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. A. fundyense is considered toxic for individuals who consume shellfish when cell abundances adjacent to shellfish harvesting areas are as low as 200 cells·L−1, making it difficult to use direct remote sensing techniques to assess the threat in the early stages of the development of the bloom. Using in situ A. fundyense cell abundance measurements, together with satellite observations of sea-surface temperature and the occurrence of diatom-dominated phytoplankton populations, a warning system was developed based on three levels of alerts: green (low abundance of A. fundyense), orange (possible threat of A. fundyense) and red (high probability of A. fundyense concentrations that would result in shellfish toxicity above safe levels for human consumption). Combined information on diatom phenology and variations in sea-surface temperature are key to the timing of A. fundyense blooms: our data reveal that the termination of the diatom spring bloom, associated with the warming of the water, can trigger an increase in A. fundyense cell abundance. The objective criteria for a HAB warning system was developed and tested in the Bay of Fundy using two different datasets: one to develop the algorithm (data collected between 1998 and 2007) and one to assess its performance (data collected in 2011). The warning system is based on the cautionary principle that a false negative (warning not issued when it should have been) is far more serious than a false positive (warning issued when it should not have been). The overall success of the algorithm when tested on the validation dataset is about 70% using a threshold of 150 A. fundyense cells·L−1, with a low occurrence of false negative red alerts (<8%). The satellite-data-based warning can be used to optimize an in situ monitoring system, which can be designed to be more intensive when the warning status is orange or red. This study demonstrates that combined satellite information on phytoplankton phenology and sea-surface temperature can help predict low abundances of toxic A. fundyense cells. It also highlights the importance of an integrated approach combining satellite and in situ observations to monitor HABs.

On the Compatibility of Brain Enhancement and the Internal Values of Sport

Elite athletes are characterized by their high level of performance in sport. Since the very beginnings of sport, it has been understood that physical and physiological abilities influence the performance of athletes. Advances in scientific knowledge, especially sport psychology and neuroscience, seem to confirm this intuition and consequently it is possible to characterize elite athletes as having an extraordinary combination of physical and mental abilities. Techniques and substances that contribute to enhancing physical characteristics of athletes have also been well known for ages. But it is now possible to make use of other techniques and substances that not only enhance physical abilities but also cognitive capabilities, which seem to require greater consideration given their direct impact on the athlete’s brain. In this article, we examine two such techniques, cognitive enhancers and transcranial stimulators, and highlight the potential advantages and drawbacks that applying each one may have on sport. Given the relative novelty of these enhancement techniques and substances and the absence of conclusive evidence regarding their short- and long-term effects, we deem that their use ought to be strictly governed by cautionary principles. But due to that same lack of evidence, we believe that the possibility of examining the feasibility of applying these techniques to sport should not be denied.

A note on the layered approach for implementing ALARP and the grossly disproportionate criterion

In this note, we discuss the as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) principle and the implications for safety management of using the 'layered approach' to implement this principle. It is an approach following a decision logic diagram consisting of three steps to guide the implementation, i.e., a crude analysis, a more detailed analysis and an assessment of other issues, including uncertainties. We show that the weight given to risk reduction and uncertainties largely depends on how this layered approach is interpreted. There are different ways to interpret it. For example, the approach may be interpreted in a way where the ALARP principle gives strong weight to the uncertainties for all decision-making contexts. A very different interpretation, which leads to a more dynamic approach is that the ALARP principle may range from one extreme, where decisions are made with reference to an expected value with limited or no weight on the cautionary principle for some decision contexts, to another, in which the cautionary principle is adopted without any reference to cost-benefit (cost-effectiveness) analyses for others.

Impact on species of conservation interest of forest harvesting for bioenergy purposes

Wood harvested from logging residues, pre-commercial and conservation thinnings is increasingly being used as biofuel as a substitute for fossil fuels. Here, we review the additional impact that wood harvesting for energy purposes has on species of conservation interest (SCI) in Swedish forests compared with the effects of conventional management, a perspective that largely has not been taken into consideration. We compiled data from 122 studies of forest fuel extraction with short- and long-term perspectives at the stand and landscape level to examine whether the effects on SCI are due to an additional loss of biodiversity as a result of cutting old forest or owing to competition from species that are favoured by the habitats formed by clearcutting. We also consider whether forest bioenergy extractions can be used to favour conservation values. The amount of logging residues has, in parallel to the amount of annually harvested trees, doubled during the past 50years in Sweden and constitutes the major source of dead wood for biodiversity in managed forests. Common wood-inhabiting species, predominantly fungi, beetles and other insects, and to some extent lichens, are the main species affected by wood harvesting for energy purposes. The main cause for the decline of SCI is the impact already imposed by conventional forest management: clearcutting old forest stands with subsequent soil scarification. Few SCI survive clear-felling because these species typically require other types of conditions and substrates than the new dead-wood substrate created after clear-felling. We conclude that the logging residues of conifers could potentially be harvested with small to negligible impacts on SCI. However, owing to the limited number of landscape level analyses that have been performed and the inherent difficulties of assessing the effects of wood harvesting on rare SCI, we suggest that these findings need to be treated with caution and that further studies should be undertaken. Hardwood conservation thinnings and brushwood harvest may improve conservation values. Developing operational guidelines to help to mitigate ecological damage to biodiversity should be based on cautionary principles and requires further large-scale and long-term research.

Revisiting the Right to Do Wrong

ABSTRACTRights to do wrong are not necessary even within the framework of interest-based rights aimed at preserving autonomy (contra Waldron, Enoch, and Herstein). Agents can make morally significant choices and develop their moral character without a right to do wrong, so long as we allow that there can be moral variation within the set of actions that an agent is permitted to perform. Agents can also engage in non-trivial self-constitution in choosing between morally indifferent options, so long as there is adequate non-moral variation among the alternatives. The stubborn intuition that individuals have a right to do wrong in some cases can be explained as stemming from a cautionary principle motivated by the asymmetry between the risk of wrongly interfering and that of refraining from interfering.

Musculoskeletal modelling of an ostrich (Struthio camelus) pelvic limb: influence of limb orientation on muscular capacity during locomotion.

We developed a three-dimensional, biomechanical computer model of the 36 major pelvic limb muscle groups in an ostrich (Struthio camelus) to investigate muscle function in this, the largest of extant birds and model organism for many studies of locomotor mechanics, body size, anatomy and evolution. Combined with experimental data, we use this model to test two main hypotheses. We first query whether ostriches use limb orientations (joint angles) that optimize the moment-generating capacities of their muscles during walking or running. Next, we test whether ostriches use limb orientations at mid-stance that keep their extensor muscles near maximal, and flexor muscles near minimal, moment arms. Our two hypotheses relate to the control priorities that a large bipedal animal might evolve under biomechanical constraints to achieve more effective static weight support. We find that ostriches do not use limb orientations to optimize the moment-generating capacities or moment arms of their muscles. We infer that dynamic properties of muscles or tendons might be better candidates for locomotor optimization. Regardless, general principles explaining why species choose particular joint orientations during locomotion are lacking, raising the question of whether such general principles exist or if clades evolve different patterns (e.g., weighting of muscle force–length or force–velocity properties in selecting postures). This leaves theoretical studies of muscle moment arms estimated for extinct animals at an impasse until studies of extant taxa answer these questions. Finally, we compare our model’s results against those of two prior studies of ostrich limb muscle moment arms, finding general agreement for many muscles. Some flexor and extensor muscles exhibit self-stabilization patterns (posture-dependent switches between flexor/extensor action) that ostriches may use to coordinate their locomotion. However, some conspicuous areas of disagreement in our results illustrate some cautionary principles. Importantly, tendon-travel empirical measurements of muscle moment arms must be carefully designed to preserve 3D muscle geometry lest their accuracy suffer relative to that of anatomically realistic models. The dearth of accurate experimental measurements of 3D moment arms of muscles in birds leaves uncertainty regarding the relative accuracy of different modelling or experimental datasets such as in ostriches. Our model, however, provides a comprehensive set of 3D estimates of muscle actions in ostriches for the first time, emphasizing that avian limb mechanics are highly three-dimensional and complex, and how no muscles act purely in the sagittal plane. A comparative synthesis of experiments and models such as ours could provide powerful synthesis into how anatomy, mechanics and control interact during locomotion and how these interactions evolve. Such a framework could remove obstacles impeding the analysis of muscle function in extinct taxa.

Sondra Hale’s “Ethnographic Residuals”

Sondra Hale’s self-imposed thirty years of silence on female circumcision—broken in 1994 for her Ufahamu article and discussed in her chapter for Obioma Nnaemeka’s Female Circumcision and the Politics of Knowledge (Praeger, 2005)—was grounded in her critique of the “residuals” of the ethnographic agenda. She argued that ethnography, particularly when addressing controversial practices, creates cultural difference rather than the generating solidarity for the struggles of women, such as the Sudanese struggles she studied. Hale recognized that the issue of female circumcision (or female genital cutting, FGC) was being co-opted by imperial discourses calling for civilizing the women in African, Arab, and Muslim societies—what one might label a form of trafficking in women. Hale chose to decline to address the issue of female circumcision for many years, since her audiences so often found themselves unable to consider any other issue of the Sudanese women’s struggles once they heard about FGC. In the face of this imperial discourse and the harm it has done, both to international alliances and to respect for feminist movements in their varying contexts, I utilize Hale’s cautionary principles and several contemporary examples to reconsider how feminists from many loci might engage positively in the female circumcision controversy with something other than silence. In my view, silence is no longer an option, precisely for the reasons Hale waited to address FGC: to resist the imperialist discourse. In light of the escalating use of FGC in inflamed journalism, misplaced condemnations, and the continuing globalization of the movement for change, I argue we must not cede terrain to the arrogance of such voices, lest we find ourselves complicit with the conflagration undermining human dignity.

First Comes Legalization, then Comes What? Tips for Washington and Colorado to Help Break the Cycle of Selective Prosecution and Disproportionate Sentencing

The recent modifications of drug laws in Colorado and Washington risk duplicating the pattern of subjugation created by current drug laws. Portions of the Washington statute, in particular, threaten to maintain the status quo and to perpetuate stereotypes of African Americans and Latinos. The states’ approaches to marijuana legalization signal that it is time now, more than ever, to reevaluate and restructure our current drug laws to prevent selective prosecution as well as the disproportionate incarceration of men and women of color. In reforming current laws, however, states must avoid incorporating terms and limitations that might trigger new forms of profiling.Part I of this Article proceeds by exposing the disproportionate impact of drug policies on men and women of color. Part II then discusses the recent laws in Washington and Colorado and their potential for perpetuating the prevailing practice of selective enforcement. Finally, Part III espouses cautionary principles for other states considering legalization.

Review on DDT and metabolites in birds and mammals of aquatic ecosystems

Interdisciplinary research regarding the pesticide DDT has been ongoing since its synthesis in 1874, with thousands of publications appearing in the literature. The present review, on the 50th anniversary of the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, examines the state of knowledge regarding the presence and toxicity of DDT in two groups of top predators in the aquatic environment, mammals and birds. The objective is to outline the essential chemical information available on the fate of this most renowned persistent organic pollutant in the context of other lipophilic contaminants, as much in terms of the abiotic environment as for the tissue distribution of DDT derivatives. The facts associated with bioaccumulation and biotransformation as well as linkages to more and less known toxic effects are presented. The discussion highlights the better understanding derived from bird investigations initiated owing to the discovery of avian reproductive effects, in contrast to the challenges faced in research on marine mammals. Eggshell thinning was observed when there were fewer industrial chemicals in use, while in the 21st century the plethora of xenobiotics entering the food web increased exponentially. A discussion of sediment quality guidelines as well as tissue guidelines is presented to explain the derivation of threshold concentrations for toxic effects. Recommendations are made to continue research on environmental contaminants entering the food chain, covering more POP and relevant toxic endpoints. Developments to replace DDT are highlighted alongside the cautionary principle, plus the regulation program launched in Europe in 2002 that will be implemented in 2020 to replace harmful chemicals.

A falta de informação sobre os Organismos Geneticamente Modificados no Brasil

This article presents a review about the labeling of products that have Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), also called transgenic elements in their composition. It addresses the conventions, laws and regulations relating to such products currently governing the market, the adequacy of these existing standards and their acceptance by society. It also examines the importance of the cautionary principle when assessing the application of new technologies or technologies where little is known or where there is no relevant scientific knowledge about the potential risks to the environment, human health and society.

Extinction debt: origins, developments, and applications of a biogeographical trope

The concept of the extinction debt has two components: a direct timelag between an environmental perturbation and the consequent extinction of a species and the idea that among species going extinct the strong competitors/weak colonizers go extinct first. Although the term was first used in 1994 in the context of metapopulation models, its roots go back to general systems theory and the theory of island biogeography. It has been qualified and elaborated since 1994, mostly in terms of the effects of spatial pattern on the outcomes. The strongest critiques of the concept emphasize that the direct trade-off between competition and colonization abilities is not simple. The original application was to remnant habitat patches, but it could be applied to spatially heterogeneous habitats that are subject to climate change or invasive species. As a guide to conservation practice, extinction debt remains a general cautionary principle rather than a specific prescription, but the raising of awareness is nevertheless significant.

People and nature: an introduction to human ecological relations

Preface. List of Figures. 1. Human Agency and the State of the Earth. Introduction. Can one conceive of ecosystems without human agents?. Human agency: individuals making a difference. Overwhelming evidence for concern with the condition of the earth system. Looking back and looking forward. 2. A Reminder: How Things Were. The study of human ecological relations. The contemporary study of environmental issues. The evolution of human-environment interactions. Hunter-gatherers: Setting our preferences. How did we decide to become farmers?. Herding and farming: An uneasy relationship. More food for the masses. 3. The Great Forgetting. Earth Transformations in prehistory. The archeology of environmental change. The urban-industrial revolution and the unleashing of Prometheus. The contemporary situation: Human-dominated ecosystems. 4. The Web of Life: Are We in It?. The web of life and trophic relations: Thinking ecologically. Ecosystem productivity and net primary production. Land Use and long-term disturbance. 5. What Makes People Want to Change the Environment?. Learning, Adaptation, and Information. Mitigation and the Cautionary Principle. Transforming the face of the earth through making better decisions. Population and the Environment. 6. Rebuilding Communities and Institutions. Community in human evolution. What is sacred in human evolution?. Tragedies of the commons. Institutions and self-organization. Bioregionalism, deep ecology and embedding people in nature. 7. Can We Learn When We Have Enough?. Material boys and material girls. Patterns of consumption in developed countries. Patterns of consumption in developing countries. A feeding frenzy and a crisis in public health. Burning fossils fuels instead of calories. Do we have enough material goods now?. 8. Quality of Life: When Less Is More. Resource abundance vs resource scarcity. When less is more. The scale of the problem and the scale of the solutions. Restoring Our Balance: Valuing community, and trust, rather than more stuff. Are we happier when we have more?. References. Index

The challenges of energy — response to Moody-Stuart

Sir Mark has lucidly addressed the growing demand for accessible energy throughout the world, the need for basic provision of energy to one third of the world's population and the con- flicts that arise between the ways in which energy is supplied and used and the constraints of sus- tainability. It is, of course, the innovation, creativity and activity of industry that will provide solutions to the problems we face. It is therefore appropriate and helpful to hear from one of the leaders of the energy industry. The vision he presents is one of a vibrant, innovative, market-driven industry oper- ating within a regulatory framework that gives the maximum flexibility for creative solutions. The greatest challenges faced by the world energy sector are concerned with environmental sustainabil- ity. Because the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide spread rapidly around the globe, sustainability has to be considered on a global basis and global solutions are required. Inter- national agreements concerning action, for instance the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), need to be based on sound science and on 4 widely accepted principles, namely the Pre- cautionary Principle, the Polluter Pays Principle and the Principles of Sustainable Development and Equity. The challenge to the FCCC is to devise mechanisms and arrangements that will bring about substantial reductions in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and that also satisfy these principles. A recent Energy Review from the Policy Innovation Unit of the UK Government's Cabinet Office has considered in detail how a sustainable energy strategy can be developed. Finally, reasons are given for optimism that, given the necessary commitment by the world community, a sustainable energy strategy for the world can be developed and realised during the 21st century.

Outlook: Intervention, Sovereignty and the Responsibility to Protect: Experiences from ICISS

This article highlights the main achievement of the Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS): the establishment of the foundations for a new normative and operational consensus on the role of military intervention for humanitarian purposes. Most significantly, the report moves beyond the political debates and conceptual histories surrounding the polarized notions of military intervention and state sovereignty, and introduces the concept of the `responsibility to protect' to bridge the polemical-political divide. This concept encapsulates the growing necessity for the norm of non-intervention to yield to the principle of international responsibility to protect foreign populations under threat of mass killings and ethnic cleansing, where these populations' governments are either complicit or ineffectual. The ideas contained in the report are based on a spectrum of philosophical principles relevant to different actors, from the more general principles of the responsibility to prevent conflict and to rebuild peace, to the more specific threshold criteria and cautionary principles - right authority and due process - to ensure the ethical legitimacy of intervention on the basis of the responsibility to protect. The article concludes with some reflections on the role of the UN and leading powers in the implementation of this framework, and the usefulness of the precautionary principle to avoid irreversible humanitarian atrocities.

Butterflies and Biotech: A cautionary principle

J. S. McLaren, Pestic. Outlook, 2001, 12, 136 DOI: 10.1039/B106288N