Green Procurement policies must also consider potential health effects for employees, vendors, and residents, particularly children. Emerging science continues to expand the list of potentially harmful chemicals in our environment, yet it is often difficult to establish scientific certainty when it comes to human exposures. This has led many communities to adopt the "Precautionary Principle" when assessing the relative safety or threat posed by products or their ingredients.

The Precautionary Principle states that "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."

For more about the Precautionary Principle, read Peter Montague's excellent article, "The Precautionary Principle in the Real World."

Products frequently used by municipalities that may have negative health impacts include:

CLEANING PRODUCTS
PAINTS, STAINS & ADHESIVES
CARPETING
TURF PESTICIDES
INDOOR PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS
SYNTHETIC TURF