Seven Deadly Sins of Environmental Epidemiology and the Virtues of Precaution

Abstract

The potentials for error in planning, conducting, reporting and utilizing epidemiologic results can be considered in terms of the traditional seven deadly sins. To counter these sins, epidemiologic virtues should be inspired by the precautionary principle. The remedies emphasize acknowledgment and exploration of the impact of uncertainties, weight-of-the-evidence assessments that consider what could be known given the opportunities for research, and epidemiologic strategies that facilitate the use of tentative, though innovative studies in decision-making.