Commentary: the role of toxicology in prevention and precaution

Abstract

Advocates of the Precautionary Principle have recently called for a "new science" to support the goals of precaution-based environmental and occupational health policy. While much attention has been given to epidemiology, the evidentiary science most relevant to precaution, or prevention, is toxicology. Opportunities for enhancing the role of toxicology in public policy must consider current biases in the field. Thus, rather than a "new science", advocates for change should focus upon ensuring that current scientific methods are appropriate and that interpretations of scientific data are accurate.