Abstract

Overview

In February 2021, a significant assembly of scientists and policy experts participated in an online Workshop to deliberate on the utilization of divergent evaluations of evidence and scientific uncertainties. This was to address the delays in implementing necessary health and environmental protections against hazardous agents.

Background

The Workshop was a continuation of discussions started by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in 2008 and drew upon the "Late Lessons from Early Warnings" reports (2001, 2013). These reports highlighted numerous hazardous agents, including various chemicals, highlighting how risk reduction was postponed for decades despite early warnings from scientists.

Findings

• Recent case studies such as Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Extremely Low Frequency - Electrical Magnetic Fields (ELF-EMF fields), glyphosate, and Bisphenol A (BPA) were analyzed.
• The workshop identified diverging outcomes in evaluations leading to delayed and insufficient public health protection.
• Recommended strategies include better use of existing data, ensuring timeliness, increasing transparency, enhancing consistency, reducing bias in evaluations, and minimizing financial conflicts of interest.

Conclusion

The workshop concluded with recommendations aimed at producing "actionable evidence" to support decisive and timely actions to safeguard health and the environment against hazardous agents.